Autumn, The Stressing Season

I have this theory that because our ancestors had to scramble every fall to get the harvest in, we still have some residual panic in us that makes us run like mad to beat the snow every year. At any rate, this is definitely the time of year when everyone gets insanely busy and stresses out in anticipation of the coming holiday season, etc. I can relate to wanting to harness the dwindling daylight, but we need some perspective.

Stress is a huge problem for health. The Mayo Clinic estimates that 80% of disease conditions are somehow related to stress, and links it to a wide range of symptoms. And Traditional Chinese Medicine has much the same view- Asian bodywork therapy like the kind I practice spends a lot of time calming and relaxing people to benefit overall health. So it's probably a universal problem, and people who say, "Stress is for other people" may be at the greatest risk, since Type A behavior and repressing emotions are known risk factors for stress-related problems. Heart attacks are notably common among this population.

Fortunately, stress relief can take many forms, including meditation, yoga, bow hunting, or just cutting things out of your schedule. So you can be aware of when you're overloading yourself, and take appropriate measures. Learning to lighten up a little, to laugh at yourself when you're too serious, can also go a long way. These simple things are what we often forget when life speeds up.

So remember, there's no harvest to bring in, unless you happen to be one of our awesome local farmers. When the dark and cold settle in, learn to cut back a little on your activity levels, instead of ramping up, and you'll save more energy down the road.