| When you compare living in the 21st century with life a | | | | dump their kids at daycare or hire a nanny to take |
| few decades ago, it has definitely become much more | | | | care of them. The good old family life has been turned |
| stressful for the average person. | | | | upside down and the divorce rate in America is |
| We start seeing more and more stress related | | | | shocking! It’s no wonder the whole family is |
| problems as we worry about our future. | | | | stressed out! |
| There are a couple of problems that are plaguing | | | | In order to handle stress wisely, you must arm yourself |
| Americans today – most notably, the sub-prime loan | | | | to the teeth. We must stop seeking for ‘instant’ |
| crisis, the tightening of credit, escalating oil prices, | | | | cures that are prevalent in today’s MTV/YouTube |
| inflation and materialism are driving most Americans | | | | society. |
| (and people around the world) up the wall. Financial | | | | The four basic areas that we must focus on are: |
| stress is prevalent and we must learn to recognize | | | | Nutrition: You must consume proper food, not just |
| them as a serious threat to our lives. | | | | burgers, pizzas and junk food. We must learn to fix |
| Take for example, vitamin supplements. About 50 | | | | dishes that contains less oil, sugar, salt, MSG or high |
| years ago, vitamin supplements were unheard of. | | | | cholesterol. Going back to a healthy lifestyle may not |
| People in the 21st century taking are supplements by | | | | be easy, but at least you will be spared from obesity |
| the dozens daily but if you examine most | | | | or eating all the wrong food. |
| grandparents, they never had the need for it and | | | | Sleep: People start sleeping at irregular hours. This is |
| some of them have better health and more energy | | | | not good. If you sleep whenever you want and wake |
| than people half their age. | | | | up early or anytime you feel like it, your body |
| We must recognize the fact that life 50 years ago is | | | | doesn’t release the right chemicals you need to |
| significantly different where people worked hard in the | | | | give you a good rest. One of the biggest stress |
| fields or got their hands dirty fixing things in contrast to | | | | factors come arise from a lack of good sleeping |
| today’s society where people spend long hours in | | | | habits. |
| their offices or in front of their computers. As a matter | | | | Exercise: You must never neglect your exercises. A |
| of fact, there weren’t much or any fast foods | | | | lot of women don’t like to exercise and they think |
| easily available during our grandfather’s time – | | | | they can lose weight by starving themselves. If you |
| they eat more healthily then we do because they | | | | want to lose weight, you must limit your intake AND |
| probably grow their own vegetables or buys from | | | | control how it ‘comes out’ as well. |
| someone who does. | | | | Mental or spiritual health: Never forget that stress |
| The absence of balanced living is another factor. Back | | | | attacks the mind first. Don’t give in to it otherwise; |
| then, the men were the ones going to work while the | | | | your physical health will suffer. Most of our illnesses |
| women nurse their kids at home. Today, it is quite | | | | are all in the mind and if you develop your inner life |
| common to see both parents going to work while they | | | | wholeheartedly, you will be able to defeat stress easily. |