The Secrets of Becoming Stress-Hardy

TRY THESE FOUR STRATEGIES TO FEEL CALMER, MORE CENTERED, AND BETTER ABLE TO HANDLE MODERN PRESSURES AND CHALLENGES.

- MELISSA DIANE SMITH

More so than any other year in recent history, 2020 has brought unprecedented changes to our lives: A worldwide pandemic, which led to social distancing, anxiety, and stay-at-home orders along with an economic shutdown, unsettled work conditions, job layoffs and furloughs, financial difficulties, and uncertainty about the future.

If you’ve been feeling stressed this year, that’s understandable, and you aren’t alone. In late April, during the height of the coronavirus-related economic crisis, roughly 70 percent of Americans experienced moderate-to-severe mental distress—triple the rate seen in 2018.

No one could have predicted the twists and turns we have experienced. During these unsteady times, it’s more important than ever to learn how to make yourself more resilient to extra stress. By following the strategies below, you can feel stronger, more focused, and better fortified to cope with life’s unexpected changes and pressures.

1 Avoid Drugs, Alcohol, Cigarettes, and Chemicals

The first step in developing stress-hardiness is to avoid unnecessary substances that increase the body’s stress load. This includes drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and even chemical additives in processed foods. More than half a century ago, the father of modern stress research, Hans Selye, MD, discovered that exposure to toxic chemicals elicited the body’s stress response and caused enlarged, overworked adrenal glands and suppression of the immune system.

2 Eat A Nutritious, Blood- Sugar-Balancing Diet