By Jim Hunt for the News and Journal
I recently read an article on ways to increase happiness and live a longer life. One of the key
takeaways was that reducing stress is essential for longevity. Like many people, I immediately
thought, “That’s easier said than done!” Stress seems to be woven into every part of our lives,
and the time it consumes can feel overwhelming. Family conflicts, job challenges, and political
discord all provide plenty of fuel for chaos. I doubt anyone can say they don’t have stress, but the
key factor seems to be how we handle the situations that trigger it.
I remember, as a young man, how furious I’d get if someone cut me off in traffic or skipped
ahead of me in line. I’d dwell on that brief, ten-second moment for hours, letting it overshadow
everything good that had happened that day. It would affect my work, too—I’d become short-
tempered with people who had nothing to do with the incident but had to suffer my bad mood.
The truth is, stress often stems more from our own insecurities and self-doubt than from others’
actions. For example, why is it that when we’re called into the boss’s office, we immediately
assume we’ve done something wrong? Or when a police officer pulls us over for speeding, we
panic and start making excuses instead of acknowledging that it was our mistake?
Over the years, I’ve spent countless hours sitting in airline terminals, watching people rush
around with their coats half on and papers sticking out of their briefcases, trying to catch a flight.
I often want to ask them, “Why didn’t you leave earlier? Why didn’t you plan ahead?” It’s a little
like the story of the little boy who asked his mom why his dad wasn’t home for dinner. She
explained that he had to stay late at work, and the boy replied, “Can’t we put Daddy in the slow
group at work so he can be home for dinner?”
I’ve come to realize that much of the stress we face is caused by things beyond our control.
Worrying about the weather, for example, takes up valuable mental energy that could be better
spent preparing for it. Just pack an umbrella or toss a sweater in your suitcase. Similarly, political
stress often stems from things we can’t control, and much of what we see on the news either
doesn’t come to pass or doesn’t affect us as much as we expect.
Poor time management is another big source of stress. I’ve adopted a system of prioritizing tasks
so I can tackle the most important ones first, avoiding distractions from smaller, less significant
tasks. Brian Tracy, a well-known speaker, calls this the “Eat the Frog” method. He believes that
addressing the toughest tasks first helps everything else fall into place, reducing stress and
boosting productivity. I often begin my day by “eating the biggest frog,” and it sets the tone for a
more stress-free, productive day.
Of course, I still experience stress from time to time, but when I feel overwhelmed, I take a
moment to write down the three or four most important things I need to do. That simple act helps clear my mind and refocus my energy. Try eating a few frogs yourself and let me know how it goes next week!
Good luck, and here’s to a stress-free week ahead!