My Stress Menu
Scroll to the bottom for the chef’s details.
Here’s some things I learned about stress-management that might surprise you.
1. You can’t fake it ‘till you make it.
Studies have shown that when people try to display a different emotion than what they are feeling (e.g. smiling while you are sad), the cognitive dissonance they experience makes the bad feeling worse. Instead, accepting whatever you are feeling and then working on a plan to ameliorate it will be more productive.
2. Perfection is lazy.
Nobody knows what your version of perfection looks like — and neither do you. Perfection is a lazy way of thinking about how you want to be, without setting a specific goal. Thinking harder about what exactly it is you want to achieve, takes pressure off you and provides productive structure for motivation.
2. Rhythm requires rest.
“Getting into the swing of things” is impossible if you are always in motion. In order to find a sustainable rhythm of productivity, you need to account for recovery time. Like swimming or running, constant drills only hurt your body without adequate time to recuperate and breathe.