When we are in the professional world, we get used to feeling stress. In fact, sometimes we get dependent on stress--even stress that is induced with caffeine or other stimulants--to the point where we can't get things done without it.
Stress creates a bunch of chemical responses in the brain. The fight or flight response brings adrenaline and cortisol. Stress can be great in the short term. It can be great for short term bursts of energy. It can heighten our focus. But it can overwhelm us, too. The lizard brain isn't very creative. And check out this link for the longer term effects of cortisol and stress.
Higher blood pressure, higher body weight, heart attacks, strokes--the list goes on and on and for most of us, it sounds familiar.
What's interesting is that the article also mentions that one way to mitigate the effects is the relaxation response.
And what brings the relaxation response? Meditation, deep breathing, yoga, a walk--simply put, a move from the left hemisphere of the brain to the right hemisphere.
Nature, it turns out, has a reset button. And all we need to do is use it.
Jeff
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