At some point in your life you’ve encountered stress. Work stress, family and relationship stress. The day-to-day stress of just running your life. Stressors weave themselves in and out of our lives for a time and most of us handle small amount of stress well.
For some of us, though, stressful events can overburden us as we encounter one highly stressful event after another. When that feeling of pressure is prolonged, we become stressed OUT.
When we’re stressed out, our daily activities, job performance, and relationships begin to suffer. We feel too overwhelmed to think clearly and we may isolate ourselves in an effort to shield ourselves from more stress. When things get really bad, we shut down to a point where we’re depressed or act out in anger.
In recent months, I’ve been under so much stress that feel like I’m walking around in a zombie-like state. I ignore calls and texts from friends and relatives who try to reach out to find out why I’ve been so absent. I regularly decline invitations and won’t leave the house because I don’t have the mental or physical energy to do ANOTHER THING.
It’s not only in your head. It’s in your body.
The physical ramifications of too much stress have been clinically proven as well. Stress increases inflammation in the body and increases cortisol levels – both of which contribute to diseases such as arthritis and heart disease.
My health is suffering as I’ve gain 20 pounds. The inflammation in my body is causing aches and pains in my joints. My stress levels are so high, I feel electrical shocks in my face and tightness in my chest – classic signs that something bad is going to happen if I DON’T ACT NOW!
My current state did not happen all of a sudden. My life was going very well for many years. I have a beautiful home with great neighbors. I have two dogs (a beagle and a shih-tzu named Nibbles & Buddy) that give me life. I have a job I actually like where I feel fairly compensated. I even have rental properties that supplement my income. So, food is always on my table and the bills are always paid.
“Sounds great to me, so what’s your problem?”
Well…stress can be an insidious mofo .
How I got here.
Over the past two years, I’ve experienced a series of life challenges including leadership changes at work that have caused my workload to nearly double. I’ve also experienced four unexpected deaths of family members and friends. These challenges have required more of my time and attention I feel like I just can’t catch up!
Dealing with the sadness that goes along with death is emotionally significant. However, my most difficult emotional challenge has been my dogs. I’ve had them for 12 years now and I remember when they were energetic and playful pups. Now, I’m watching them get old. One of them is 14 now and he is experiencing canine dementia. This takes a lot of time and patience and is not easy watch. I know I’ll have to say goodbye one day too soon and this makes me cry every day.
I haven’t kept up with exercise, which could help with the stress, but I haven’t found a way to fit it in my life yet. My schedule is very unpredictable and depends on the demands of outside forces right now. My apathy has resulted in a home that in unkempt and overfilled with stuff I can’t maintain. I have to take precious time to clean, move, and repair things I don’t even use!
So, there begs the question: How do I get rid of this ridiculous amount of stress when I’m too stressed out to do anything about it???
Stopping The Madness
…something bad is going to happen if I DON’T ACT NOW!
Today, I’ve come to the realization that finding the answer to that question is a matter of my life or my death. I’ve reached the point where I’m completely and utterly stressed OUT. Fried. Just DONE….and I will die if I don’t do something about it.
Since I cannot control death or what my employer is demanding of me right now, I’ve decided to start with eliminating the stress I can control in my living environment.
That’s where this blog begins.
A New Beginning
Thirteen years ago, a boyfriend and I were working in the financial services industry. We were complaining about how stressful our jobs were. One day we brainstormed an idea about a perfect company aligning with the philosophy behind a Japanese garden where everything runs simply and naturally and for everyone’s benefit – the owners, the workers, and the environment.
This started me thinking about a simpler personal life. However, I didn’t know how to begin. So, I continued living my complicated life.
Today, though, there are YouTubers, authors, and bloggers who have shared their experiences for a simpler way of life with less stress. Think of pioneers like The Minimalists or Fumio Sasaki. They’ve given fantastic advice on minimalism and I’ll continue to study them and learn from others to put their ideas to practice. I hope to contribute by offering my experiences on the road to discovering stress-reducing simplicity – especially as a person experiencing mid-life. I’ll let go of the things I’ve accumulated over many years that were supposed to improve my life, but only contributed to the madness that became my life.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Laozi
You might be in mid-life caring for older parents, a young adult caring for a sick child, or still fighting the corporate fight and feeling like something’s got to give. Some things you won’t be able to change. But, take that first step towards a change you CAN make. Start with the things that surround you that are needlessly cramming your space and demanding time that you just can’t spare. Use simplicity to refocus that energy on what really matters most to you.
Are you tired of clutter stressing you out too? Have you made any steps toward a new beginning, or are you struggling just like a lot of us? I’d like to hear from you! Share your story in the comments.