It’s April…the sun is out and stress is up
April 12, 2010
I’m a little worried about some of you guys. You don’t look good. In fact, you look like you’re about ready to (pick one): 1) cry, 2) scream, 3) fall asleep standing up, or 4) gorge on a large Pecan Cluster Blizzard with a side order of fries. (Oh, wait, that last one is me.)
So what’s wearing you out? Papers? Tests? Projects? Roommates? Boyfriends/girlfriends? Parents? Job? No job? Bills? Lack of sleep? All of the above and more? Almost all of us has a mile-long list of stressors. To make matters worse, we seem to be working very hard to “out-stress” each other. You have two exams in the same day? Well, I have two exams, three papers, two organization meetings, and a flat tire. Have you heard (or participated) in the following conversation?
“I didn’t get to bed until 3:30 in the morning.”
“Well, I haven’t slept since last Wednesday.”
“Oh yeah? I haven’t had any sleep since my freshman year.”
We have a winner, first place, A+++, the Champion of Stress.
There are a handful of people who haven’t joined the UWGB Stress Competition. You see them at the Kress Events Center playing basketball, doing Zumba, or climbing the wall. They get enough sleep on most nights. They drink water, eat an occasional apple, put a veggie or two on their pizza. Papers and projects are spread over weeks rather than cranked out all in one night.
Some of you will stop reading this post now because you’re thinking something like: “Really, what planet is she on?” Or who wants to be one of those people? Yep, who wants to be calm, happy, awake, and healthy? Certainly not me.
We all have days when we feel frazzled and frantic, when we can’t focus on anything but our list(s) of things to do. We get through those days the best we can. But, for today, let’s challenge ourselves to stop for a few minutes. Let’s go for a walk around the arboretum (invite a stressed-out friend!), lie on the lawn and watch the clouds, enjoy a (decaf) latte and some music in the coffeehouse, or call a family member and wish him/her a happy birthday/anniversary/engagement/Monday.
We can simply try to survive April or we can make the most of April. The sun is out, the snow is gone, and anything is possible. Let’s not wish it away. Go out and play.
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I loved this post. Thanks, Lisa!