Navigating the New Normal: Understanding and Managing Baseline Stress

In today's world, where everyday stress has become an accepted norm, it's not uncommon to become accustomed to a relatively high stress level. This "baseline stress level" can creep up over time, especially when bombarded with news of wars, terrorist attacks, and mass shootings. If you are feeling unsettled, you aren't alone. A friend recently said they were feeling melancholy with a side of impending doom.??

The consequences of sustained high stress levels are not trivial—they impair our critical and creative thinking abilities and can deteriorate our physical and emotional well-being. The signals of excessive stress are often subtle and cumulative, leading to a gradual onset that might go unrecognized until it has taken a significant toll. One of Eliz's participants said, "I didn't know what I was feeling was stress. I thought I was just bad at handling things. I needed the data and science to really understand the danger I've been ignoring."?

As a leading expert on stress management, Eliz Greene knows addressing the issue of high baseline stress requires a structured approach. High stress levels can hijack our ability to think critically and creatively and lead to a host of unwanted health issues. The insidious nature of stress is that while a certain amount of stress is natural and even beneficial, providing the "zing" to accomplish tasks, excessive stress is a formidable enemy. Chronic stress, with its continuous trigger of the cortisol response, can double the risk of heart attack and stroke. Yet, Eliz argues, cortisol isn't the villain—it's our management of it that counts.?

Her Stress-Proof System is robust and rooted in extensive research designed to tackle the silent creep of stress that often goes unnoticed until its physical and psychological toll becomes palpable.?

Here are three key steps to manage and mitigate baseline stress levels designed to restore balance and enhance resilience:

1. Assessment of Stress Levels: Eliz developed the Baseline Stress Level Quiz as part of her research. The 12 targeted questions can offer insight into whether your stress is acute, critical, moderate, or mild. Acknowledging the severity of your stress is the first step towards meaningful change. Find the quiz here.
2. Strategic Disengagement: Identify and consciously disconnect from the sources in your environment responsible for triggering and sustaining your cortisol stress reactions. Continuous exposure to stress-inducing news programming and social media, for example, perpetuates the cycle of cortisol release. Limiting your interaction with these triggers is essential for halting the stress reaction and allowing your system to recover.
3. Proactive Stress Reduction: Engage in activities that signal your body to process cortisol out of your body. Regular movement, hydration, and quality sleep are practical measures that can significantly reduce your cortisol levels. These actions not only support your physical health but also enhance your capacity for critical and creative thought. Plus, they probably will make you feel better, too!

The pervasive nature of baseline stress in our current world is a challenge that requires proactive strategies to manage effectively. By evaluating your stress levels, disconnecting from stress amplifiers, and taking active steps to reduce stress, you can protect and improve your overall health, ensuring that your capacity for critical and creative thought remains unimpaired. Take Eliz's Baseline Stress Level Quiz and get access to resources to lower your baseline!