I cannot stress this enough... just do it

Iam a great fan of stress. Without it I would probably curl up on the sofa and outsleep the cat. Just about everything I do that I enjoy, or is worthwhile, involves stress. I’m not unique. It is that way for most of us.

Stress is a problem when it overwhelms us. That happens to most of us now and again. There are the months when the accounts won’t balance, when you have had an unpleasant disagreement with somebody, and then to cap it all the car breaks down.

Sometimes all you can do is laugh at the hand the universe has dealt you. These are the times when a chat with a friend works wonders. Or a long walk. Things are usually not as bad as they at first seem.

I have always found it helpful to look back on my diary and see the ups and downs over the past months. It gives some perspective. The highs don’t last. And thankfully the lows have not either.

I do not mean to make light of those people who are going through an awful time whether because of health, finance, family or whatever. I am thinking of the more normality that makes up the waking hours for most of us. And all the hoo ha about leading less stressful lives is to me just guff. It would be a recipe for very boring lives.

Unless you are a Neven Maguire it is stressful to have eight people over for dinner. But is it worth it once you hear the conversation and laughter while they eat your attempts? It sure beats a stress-free takeaway.

It is stressful to face an 8ft putt for a win on the 18th. But it beats idling in front of the television. It is stressful to run your first marathon. But it will remove much more stress than it creates.

Managing stress requires preparation. Nobody likes standing up in front of a crowd, but, with preparation, pretty much everybody can, and will feel the better for it. I see some people who are permanently stressed because they have too much on (they say) and they are always late . Managing time should not be difficult for anyone who can read a watch. It is THINK AHEAD with room for the D.

I am fortunate in that there are few things that will keep me awake at night, and sleep is a great stress reducer. On the rare occasions I am ruminating over something I get up and read a book for half an hour. When I have made a mess of something I know I can’t turn the clock back. I resolve to prepare better the next time. I do get annoyed if I do not learn from a mistake whether on the golf course (most days) or in real life (most days).

A stress-free life is a dumb ambition. A well managed stressful life will probably be a lot more fun and a lot more

productive.