Less stress, less success in these idle times

@wwaycorrigan

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Stress, especially of the mental variety, is seen as something to be avoided for our overall well-being.

At chronic levels, it can lead to anxiety, depression or other difficult-to-overcome afflictions of the mind.

Having less stress is a good thing in general. This doesn't mean we shouldn't push ourselves, though.

One proven way to reduce mental stress is to counter it with a bit of physical stress on the body i.e. exercise.

This doesn't need to be of an elite-athlete variety. It can be a case of just being active enough to get the heartbeat up a few notches — a brisk walk, some floor exercises at home, even energetically cleaning the house.

Incorporating such physical movements into one's daily routine doesn't appear too complicated, in theory.

However, with all the technological advancements over the decades leading to an increase in sedentary yet no less demanding and time-consuming forms of employment, some people find it hard to fit in physical activity to get that endorphin, feel-good boost. (OK, some are simply lazy, too.)

Indeed, it's a double negative that doesn't produce a positive (mathematics isn't always helpful in real life). The sedentary but demanding employment, stressful in its own right, can leave one with little time and desire for exercise, thereby compounding the stress.

I can only assume that trying to raise a young family alongside all this makes the situation even more problematic. On the flip side, it might provide some welcome comfort, focus and strength.

Otherwise engaged

Whatever the case, for all of the above, I can't say I'm really having to deal with them right now.

As a single, childless man, the raising of a family is not a factor. (Although, one has had complications of late with the odd mentally straining frenemy.)

As for work, while this year has been particularly troubling in terms of a steady income, the positive is that I don't have the time-consuming, stress-inducing, sedentary employment as a concern. (Do note, with my current skill set, the careers in which I could earn the most are those where one spends a lot of time at a computer.)

This lack of paid employment that would see me tied to one place for hours on end means that I have plenty of time to get out and about. OK, I'm not running marathons but I'm usually on my feet moving more than I'm sitting still.

'It's like I'm in early-midlife retirement, minus any pension.'

The generous me-time also allows for what I feel is a cathartic, relaxing mealtime, in that I get to cook my own meal — I generally just need one — almost every day.

In one sense, it's like I'm in early-midlife retirement, minus any pension of course. Thus, it must be temporary, unless I come into a lot of money soon.

And this is the crucial issue here. The consequences of being economically inactive mean it's not a carefree time. While I'm managing my financial affairs for now, it is, to state the obvious, unsustainable in the mid to long term.

It's one of those scenarios where my back isn't completely against the wall yet. It's why I'm still quite picky about the work I'm willing to do.

As for returning to full-time employment, I would have to be well-remunerated to give up my independence. For whatever I may gain in financial recompense, previous working-for experiences tell me that it comes at a significant stress cost.

Stress test

However, not all mental anguish is inherently bad. Stress leading to anxiety or depression is one thing, challenging oneself to expand knowledge or learn a new skill is quite another.

It's like physical activity. When we push ourselves hard, it's taxing on both body and mind. We can even overdo it to the point of burnout and injury. Yet, not doing it will most likely result in a myriad of far worse health complications sooner or later.

So, with both physical activity and workouts for the mind, it's about finding the balance.

Now, I must say that I feel that my mental health is fairly sound.

Yes, this fallow paid-employment period leaves me with much thinking time. And overthinking can be dangerous for the mind. However, when I'm not distracted by technology or barrio temptations — socialising is important — it also offers plenty of beneficial reading time.

And even with all my free time, I still wish I had more hours in the day to read — I am a slow enough reader — and acquire new knowledge. One can never know enough. And one can never know it all.

While all this is, on the whole, keeping stress at bay, it's not like I have no preoccupations. We all do, of course.

Also, right now, it's not a case of, to borrow from the title of a school book I once used, less stress, more success; success measured in monetary terms this is. It could be said it's more like less stress, less success.

Nonetheless, I'm certainly not searching for ways to unnecessarily increase my stress levels.

I want to be excited about and stimulated by my next challenge, not stressed out about it. Ever the idealist.
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Finding that happy place

Depression, as we know, is an illness of the mind. That being so, some view it as a condition that can be cured, or at least managed, by the power of the mind alone. In over-simplified terms, 'will ourselves into a happier state'.

In relation to non-clinical depression that most of us go through on occasions, there is merit to that. 

For example, and not meaning to be facetious here, there's no point getting ourselves down over such an uncontrollable thing as the weather. If it's raining there's nothing we can do about it, but we can take measures to prevent ourselves getting wet all the same.

Happiness isn't always just in the mind; the place plays its part, too.

If it's our routine and work that has us at a low ebb, the old saying, 'a change is as good as a rest', might be the remedy. That's perhaps easier for some to do than others; it depends on our education, employment position, financial standing and suchlike. (It must be noted here that it is, generally speaking, those who have access to more opportunities who tend to find themselves thinking this way.)

Yet for others, whether it's momentary depression or one that has been clinically diagnosed, the place of residence plays its part. That is to say they're content at what they are at, but they feel they're doing it in the wrong place, usually inhabited by people not quite of their ilk.

In such a scenario, simply willing yourself out of this delicate mental state is nigh on impossible. You basically have to get up and go to feel happier, but the get-up-and-go required to do that is often lacking, especially in major depression cases.

In milder instances, a short break from our normal environment does the trick; the key is to take them regularly. (For the record, while we like Bogotá, getting out of the metropolis is needed every now and again.) 

For most working- to middle-class people, regardless of marital status or offspring to cater for, escaping on a regular basis for short periods is doable.

It's a far more complicated issue, though, if you feel no love at all for where you are, to the point that the actual place and people are the chief reasons for your depressed state, yet you have a significant other who is content there and has no desire to leave. An immovable object meets an unstoppable force. Either a compromise is reached or the relationship is pretty much doomed.

There are those who say that love conquers all and if it doesn't then it wasn't meant to be. Perhaps that's the case. 'If you loved me enough you'd live with me even in hell' kind of thing. 

However, staying in a place you detest for the sole purpose of maintaining a long-standing relationship, and one that seemed solid at that, certainly doesn't seem like the key to a life full of happiness.

Finding that happy state isn't always a matter of mind over mud, so to put it. On occasions that mud you're treading on plays a big part, for better or for worse.

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