I mean, on top of all the physiological issues that stress has on your body (those are legion), stress also takes a huge toll on your mind. Think for a moment about what it’s like to have a very stressful day. How do you feel when you finally get to sit down? Do you get home after your long day and say things like “let’s pile even more things on” or “let me just think about more stressful things?” Probably not. If you are anything like me, I just want to sit, breathe, and stare into space after a long day of thinking. I might put on a tv show or play a game because I just don’t want to think anymore.
Now, normally after a good night’s sleep, you might be able to get some energy back. But prolonged periods of stress have even more negative impacts. Here are 3 to think about in your own life:
1. Stress makes everything heavier/harder
Your mental state impacts everything in your life. Sadly, it doesn’t work that way, even for people who say they can compartmentalize. If you have “5 coins of caring” a day, and you spend all 5 coins on work, you don’t get more coins because you go home. Your home life will be affected by the lack of coins! Everything is harder when you hold onto stress because you drag those negative experiences into your good experiences, which taints them. (if you want to know more about how this happens, watch this video I did on burnout and how it affects relationships!) https://youtu.be/0NAmOIa01uQ
2. Stress makes your fuse shorter
The more stressed you are, the shorter your fuse. Things you might normally tolerate instead become annoying, and your reactions to everything heighten: they become BIGGER and more DRAMATIC. This is partly why people break down under lots of stress. The emotions just get so big that they overload you.
3. Stress dulls your higher functioning
When you have a lot on your mind weighing you down, it is no surprise that you don’t have a lot of bandwidth for more focus. Stressed individuals are more prone to poor discernment and snap judgments. Obviously, in our fast-moving world, dulling your senses won’t help you react well to the sudden changes life brings.
So if you notice stress piling up, don’t wait to handle it! See what you can take off of your plate and make sure to take time and de-stress. If you want tips on how to do that, check out this video where I talk all about how to save yourself from stress. https://youtu.be/w5wDKyuqN8Y
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