DAILY WRITING PROMPT

How do you manage stress?

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I have noticed that as I age, it is becoming harder and harder to deal with stress. For twenty years or so I had a very stressful job running a department for a large corporation, and it felt as if something always needed my attention. I hired, fired, and handled everyday stressful situations, from performance reviews that could change someone’s career to conflict between employees that threatened to derail the whole team. I had a total of 13 employees—office workers, warehouse staff, delivery drivers, and shipping—each group with its own problems, personalities, and emergencies that somehow all funneled back to me. On top of that, I had to keep operations running smoothly, meeting deadlines and hitting budgets, while also making sure the basic things in the building worked, right down to making sure the toilets did not plug up. I was the go-to guy if there was a problem, and over the years the constant pressure, long hours, and feeling that I could never fully switch off started to wear me down in ways I didn’t fully recognize until later in life.

In my retirement years, I avoid stress as much as possible, especially when it comes to travel. A year ago, I took an out-of-state trip to visit my brother, whom I hadn’t seen in over twenty years. The idea of managing airline tickets, airport crowds, car rentals, hotel reservations, and all the other details that come with a trip felt overwhelming, and I knew I could not deal with it on my own. I asked my son to take me, not just to drive, but to handle the planning, the schedules, and all the unexpected little problems that always seem to come up when you travel. Thanks to my son stepping up—booking the flights, arranging the lodging, guiding me through the airports, and keeping everything running smoothly—it turned into a very enjoyable trip. Instead of worrying, I was able to relax, focus on the visit, and fully enjoy reconnecting with my brother after all those years, which made the experience truly special for me.

Now I avoid stress as much as I can. That is how I manage stress.