Handling Stress Easier

Problems can be complicated and complex.

Complicated problems have repeatable solutions and clear cause and effect relationships. It’s kind of like fixing a car engine. It has a lot of parts, but once you’ve diagnosed the issue, the solution is the same for every issue of that type.

On the other hand, complex problems don’t have clear solutions. One day a solution might work but the next day it doesn’t. So you have to adapt and adjust based on the feedback you get.

Stress is both a complicated and complex problem. We don’t always know where the stress is coming from. When there’s too much or too little of it, it can derail us. It can effect how you interact with others, reduce your ability to use words well, and even impact your memory and decision making. 

One thing you can do to fight off the bad parts of stress is to create routines.

A routine can be macro, like making the bed, a hygiene sequence, eating breakfast, packing a lunch, exercising, and so on.

Or a routine can be micro, something like 1. recognizing when something frustrating has happened, 2. exhaling slowly and taking a big breath, 3. looking at the facts and circumstances, and 4. responding instead of reacting.

In short, recognize, breathe, observe, and respond.

Consider what macro and micro routines you already have that work for you and update or build in some new ones as needed.

It’s a lot of work to regulate under stress, especially because stress causes reactions. Having simple routines like this can make it easier to move through stressful situations with grace and composure.