Today’s episode is for #NationalStressAwarenessDay. Obviously, it’s about stress. Let’s start easy: with my stress story.

Interesting Conversations episode 2 is out now!

John Kershaw's tweet about stress

I don’t claim to know all the answers, but I can share the mistakes I made.

It took me a long time in my life to realise this. Your job, your money, your whatever: none if it is worth stressing out over.

It all hit me about 5-6 years ago. I was working too hard and stressed out my body (it’s not just your mind that can get stressed)

I was stressing my body and brain out by working too hard. Doing too much.

Side note: it might appear now that I still do too much, but trust me I don’t. I learned my limits.

Side note too: there’s 2 types of stress: mental stress and physical stress. Physical stress can be caused by a long-term poor diet.

I started suffering from panic attacks. It wasn’t good.

How did I fix it? At the start, I didn’t work less. I stupidly didn’t make the connection.

I exercised. I started running. A few years after I’d lost a bit of weight, I got into weight lifting and other things.

I got into the best shape of my life (and maintain it now). My stress is gone, my anxiety gone. Is that a coincidence?

I don’t think so. Your health is SO important. Your health is MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYTHING ELSE. Seriously.

Good health = you’ll be less stressed.

It isn’t the complete picture: you’ve got to not work so hard, avoid letting things stress you out (isn’t always easy though)

Stress is terrible for your body. Long term: it makes you hold on to body fat, makes you age quicker and ruins your body.

Work too much. Don’t exercise. Don’t eat properly. Live a selfish lifestyle. This will increase stress.

Meditate. Exercise. Eat healthy. Practice a stoic lifestyle. This will reduce stress.

Don’t be like I was. Nothing is worth the stress.

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