Stress is what you feel when you have to handle more than you are used to. When you are stressed, your body responds as though you are in danger. It makes hormones that speed up your heart, makes you breathe faster, and gives you a burst of energy. This is called the fight-or-flight stress response. -WebMD.com
The fight-or-flight response, we know what that is: Big bear chase me, run fast! Or, Only One Twix in the Vending Machine, Get Outta My Way! We know how to relieve stress, but what if you could beat stress to the punch through preparation?
Roman philosopher Seneca said “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
However, on the flip side, if we revise this a little:
Stress is what happens when no preparation meets opportunity.
Let’s take a common stressor – tax day. What if you wait until April 14th, turn your house upside down trying to find forms and receipts, decide to do it yourself, then mess it up, call the tax place, beg for an appointment and get your taxes mailed at 9:00 p.m. April 15th. This extreme example may not apply to how you do your taxes, but is this how you might operate in other aspects of your life?
Preparation goes along way
Think about what stresses you out and ask yourself if a little bit of preparation will help you. For example, are you running late every morning? Ask yourself what you can do the night before to make things run more smoothly in the morning. Pack your lunch, put important items by the door or in your car, lay out your outfit, iron your clothes, etc.
Does the “What to Eat for Dinner” question stress you out every day? Make a plan. Decide in the morning what you are doing. Even if your plan is picking up a pizza on the way home, at least you have a plan and you can put the question out of your mind for the rest of the day.
Part of preparation and stress reduction is deciding when you need help and asking for it.
Let’s look at the tax example again: What if you get your taxes done professionally? No stress, the tax preparer gives you a nice little package, finds more write-offs than you ever would, gets you in and out in 30 minutes, and files electronically. In my opinion, it’s totally worth it.
Do you change your own oil? Rent the steam cleaner and clean your own carpets? Wash and detail your car every weekend? Make homemade frosted cupcakes for all the school parties? Doing all these things is great, but if you don’t have any time to relax and you are always stressed about getting everything done, consider outsourcing your tasks to a professional. Buy the pretty cupcakes at the bakery now and then. It costs a little bit more, but your health and sanity make it worth it.
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