Managing Stress Today

We’ve always had stress; so managing stress is part of living whether it’s in our families, our workplace, or community. When faced with workplace problems, family conflict, breakups, financial pressures, unexpected illness or loss of a loved one, we need to find ways to manage stress.

But before I mention any tips, let’s look at what’s happening today.

Why is This Time So Stressful?

In recent years, with the rise in depression and anxiety, managing stress has become critical. With all the scary news about our changing climate, people are naturally worried. Will there be a world in the not too distant future? The cost of living is also rising. The price of eggs was a strong complaint in the recent American election. Young people are worried about how they’ll be able to afford a home. A rising number of young adults are now living with their parents. This has an effect on their ability to form long-lasting marital relationships of their own.

The other ongoing fear is war. The world is uneasy with ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and in Ukraine. Alliances are shifting, changing. New fears come with any unexpected change. As one reader told me, “The world is upside down.” What makes all of this news hard to handle, is the fact we are assaulted by bad news every day through so many different channels and social media.

Insulting Canadians

For example, a short time ago, Canada and the United States were good neighbours. The countries shared the friendliest and longest undefended border on the planet. This is no longer the case. President Trump’s threats to Canada’s sovereignty have jolted Canadians coast to coast. We find it appalling to hear our prime minister called Governor and Trump suggesting Canada should become America’s 51st state.

American hockey players at the recent 4 Nations Hockey tournament (Canada, America, Sweden, and Finland) in Montreal had to endure the boos of angry fans. The largely Canadian audience booed the American anthem. This has never happened before. And just to be clear, the fans did that, not to insult the American players but to send a message back to their president. So, Canada’s win over the USA in the finals was especially sweet.

As for the threat of tariffs, Canada, the USA, and Mexico had worked out a trade deal in 2018 during Trump’s first presidency. He said it was the best trade deal ever. But not any more. Why?

Trump supposedly threatened to impose tariffs on Canada to get our government to shore up the border. Even though there were problems on both sides and Trump exaggerated the number of illegal immigrants and drugs crossing over to the USA, our government politely listened and, in response, announced a 1.3 billion dollar plan to improve border security.

All 13 premiers took a trip to Washington to reason with the White House, but rather than getting a welcome, they had to endure a long security lineup and an audience with white house staff who had little power. It’s beyond insulting.

But Trump’s bluster is not about any of the above, he wants Canada’s resources. How can you trust a man who said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was genius? It appears the USA is once again in expansionist mode, threatening, Canada, Greenland, Panama, and even Mexico with Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico.

Insulting Europe and Ukraine

Europe is also rattled by the American president, once a trusted ally, cozying up to Putin. J.D. Vance, vice-president of the USA, recently told an audience at the Munich Security Conference, “There’s a new sheriff in town.” And that sheriff is now determined to impose tariffs on America’s allies in Europe, too.

Similarly, heads in Ukraine are spinning with Trump’s about face. Trump is blaming Ukraine for starting the war and keeping it up. He called Ukraine’s heroic president, Zelenskyy, a dictator. Insane! The poor people of Ukraine who’ve sacrificed so much are naturally distressed over America’s about turn, as are those in the Ukrainian diaspora.

Those who’ve followed my work know that what’s happening in Ukraine, the country of my ancestors, has caused me personal pain. I know its history because of the research I’ve done in the writing of my baba’s family saga, set during World War I and the wars that followed. Ukrainians have always suffered under Russian occupation, control, and threats to their existence. If you haven’t read my work, you’ll find it informative.

Scaring Americans, too

With Americans divided before and after the election, it stands to reason at least half of Americans are stressed by what they’re seeing. Trump and his sidekick, Musk, are busy dismantling all the federal departments, those serving Americans and those assisting foreigners through USAID. Gatekeepers are being fired in every agency. Workers are being summarily dismissed. Health and Environmental protections are up in the air. Many don’t know how Trump’s threatening tariffs on products from other countries are going to affect them.

Many are wondering what happened to law and order. People who were loyal to Trump but found themselves incarcerated were let go for crimes that should not go unpunished. Others had charges dropped. Even Trump’s own legal battles disappeared.

And positions of incredible authority are being handed over to people who do not have the credentials or the experience to do the job. The Amercian Congress and Senate controlled by the Republicans are rubber stamping it all, without much thought to the consequences of their decisions.

So, yes, this is a very stressful time for people on both sides of the border. Managing stress is more important than ever.

Managing Stress

I used to run stress managment workshops for both professionals and blue collar workers in the workplace and I gave tips on managing stress to clients in my counselling practice.

We don’t realize that most of us are managing stress fairly well. We do it unconciously through having coffee with friends, sharing a joke, listening to music, watching a favourite TV program, walking a dog, cuddling a cat, reading a book, participating in community activities, and tending to our plants or gardens.

But there is also much out of our control, as discussed above.

Since there is so much out of our control in our countries, one of the most important steps we can take is to focus on what we can control and not on what we can’t. We can’t control what our world leaders are doing, but we can reduce the stress by taking care of ourselves. We need to find joyful ways to escape the madness, if only for a little while.

My new book, Along Came A Gardener, is about managing life’s emotional roller coaster.

Managing stress also means taking care of our health. Keeping our bodies strong means eating well, ideally, a balanced diet heavy on vegetables and fruits. And just so you know, with fresh produce being expensive, nutritionists have found that frozen fruits and vegetables are as nutritious as fresh. They were preserved right after picking, sealing in all the essential minerals and vitamins. With fresh produce often pricier than frozen and more likely to spoil before it’s all used, buying frozen can be easier on the pocketbook.

Exercise is a no-brainer. Most people know that, but with too many in sedentary occupations involving computers and other devices even during leisure time, there’s the tendency to sit and forget about working out. We are not as active as previous generations. No wonder anxiety and depression are way up. But just 20 minutes of an active workout—running, cycling, fast walking, aerobics—gets the happy hormones going. Exercise serves to release the tension of the day.

And we all need a good night’s sleep. So necessary to healthy living. And yet today, so many suffer from lack of it. I have a whole section of tips in my book to help you get a good night’s sleep. I know how awful sleepless nights can feel. I suffered from insomnia over a decade ago, when my mother was in intensive care. Because of what I experienced, I figured out ways to overcome periods of little sleep.

There are more tips in my non-fiction memoir, Along Came A Gardener.

Thanks for Reading

Reading a good book is also a recipe for managing stress. I just finished a wonderful one by Abraham Verghase Cutting for Stone. I’d read The Covenant of Water, which came later, and loved it so much that I bought his earlier one. When life around me is swirling, escaping into a good story, often in a different culture, is a lovely break from problems in life.

I hope your problems are small. Thank you for stopping by to read my blog post.