There is much to love about life. It’s easy to forget that we’re only here once (we assume), and that is pretty special. It’s a gift that we should cherish. However, there’s no denying that life isn’t just one long jaunt through the fields. There are tough moments too, and sooner or later, you’ll have to deal with them. While sometimes there’s no avoiding the fact that you have to go through bad periods, sometimes being aware of them can help to soften the blow. I look at examples of life’s most stressful moments and offer some tips on how to navigate them as well as possible.
Life’s Most Stressful Moments: Moving Home
We tend to think of moving property as a positive experience, and ultimately, that’s what it’ll hopefully prove to be. However, it’s important to remember that the actual act of moving can be stressful, even if you’re just moving to a house located down the street. There are just so many things to do, and it’s a fact that we’re creatures of habit. Uprooting ourselves and placing ourselves somewhere else can be a challenge, even if we’ll ultimately call it home. To reduce the stress, it’s best to plan as much as you can in advance, and also to embrace the fact that it’s going to be chaotic. This is just something that you can’t control.
To avoid this move hitting your list of life’s most stressful moments make sure you get as much help as you can, be realistic about the mess and the upheaval and give yourself a break from time to time.
Going Through a Divorce
The end of a relationship is never nice. You’ve built something together, and the truth is that even if you know it was the right decision, it takes time to get used to single life. Things become even more complicated when you’re getting a divorce. At that stage, your life is strongly intertwined with the other person, and dealing with all the details can be very stressful, especially if there are children involved. Perhaps the best advice is to do what you have to do, and be patient. You will eventually make it through to the other side.
The Death of a Loved One
Nothing can prepare you for the death of a loved one. Even if you knew it was on the horizon, it’s still the most painful emotional experience that a person can endure. While there’ll always be stress involved, there are things you can do that’ll make things easier to bear. Surrounding yourself with loved ones, allowing yourself to feel all the emotions, working with professional funeral directors to say a proper goodbye will all help. Beyond that, it’s all about trying to put one foot in front of another and having faith that it will pass.
Strongly consider grief counselling for yourself and your family. Not everyone’s journey is the same when it come to grieving and therefore a little help finding the best path forward can make all the difference.
Life’s Most Stressful Moments: Global Events
Sometimes stress comes from our own situation. At other times, it’s because of global situations. The state of the world can get us down in abstract ways, such as the threat of climate change or uncertainty surrounding the economy, at other times in direct ways, such as the coronavirus pandemic. During these times, it’s a good idea to focus on community. Humans have shown we can get through anything when we’re on the same side.
What would you consider life’s most stressful moments? What tips might you share with others for reducing the stress or moving past the other emotions that come with big life changes?
