Why Is Everyone So Stressed These Days? | Easy English Talks

[00:00:00]Welcome to Laura's English Vibe. Hello everyone. Welcome back to Easy English Talks.

[00:00:07]>> Hi, how are you doing today?

[00:00:10]>> I am stressed.

[00:00:13]>> Ha, that is actually perfect because today we talk about stress.

[00:00:19]>> Yes, today's question is why is everyone so stressed these days?

[00:00:25]And when I say everyone, I really mean everyone.

[00:00:30]>> Your boss is stressed.

[00:00:33]>> Your teacher is stressed.

[00:00:36]>> Your dog is probably stressed, too.

[00:00:39]>> Actually, studies show that pets can feel stress from their owners.

[00:00:44]>> See, even the dog, poor dog.

[00:00:48]>> So, what is stress exactly?

[00:00:52]Stress is the feeling you get when life feels too much.

[00:00:56]>> Too much work, too many problems, too many things to do.

[00:01:01]>> Your body feels tight. Your mind feels full.

[00:01:06]>> Like a phone with 1% battery and 47 apps open.

[00:01:11]>> Oh, that is a perfect description. I feel that every day.

[00:01:16]>> Let's talk about why.

[00:01:19]Part one. Modern life is very busy.

[00:01:24]>> Laura, do you think people were more stressed in the past or now?

[00:01:29]>> H, that is a good question.

[00:01:32]>> In the past, people did not have emails.

[00:01:36]>> No emails. That sounds wonderful.

[00:01:40]>> No work messages at midnight.

[00:01:43]>> No notifications every 5 minutes.

[00:01:47]Life was simpler, >> but also harder in different ways.

[00:01:53]>> That's true. No medicine, no clean water, no supermarkets.

[00:01:59]>> Okay, maybe the past was not so great either.

[00:02:03]>> But today, we have a new problem. We are always connected.

[00:02:08]>> Always connected means always available.

[00:02:12]Your boss sends a message at 1000 p.m.

[00:02:16]>> and you feel like you must reply right now >> even though you are already in bed >> with your eyes half open typing with one hand.

[00:02:27]>> We have all done that. Don't pretend you haven't.

[00:02:31]The line between work and free time is now very thin >> or it does not exist at all >> and that creates a lot of stress.

[00:02:42]>> Part two, social media and comparing ourselves.

[00:02:47]>> Alex, I think social media makes stress worse.

[00:02:51]>> Oh, definitely. Let me give you an example.

[00:02:54]>> Go ahead.

[00:02:56]>> You wake up in the morning. What is the first thing you do?

[00:03:00]Check my phone.

[00:03:01]>> Me, too. And what do you see?

[00:03:04]>> Someone is on a beautiful vacation in Italy.

[00:03:08]>> Someone just bought a new car.

[00:03:10]>> Someone got a new job, a better job.

[00:03:14]>> Someone's baby is so cute and their house is so clean.

[00:03:18]>> And you are sitting in bed with messy hair, eating old biscuits.

[00:03:23]>> And suddenly you feel bad about your life. Even though your life is actually fine.

[00:03:31]>> That is the problem with social media.

[00:03:34]>> We compare our normal everyday life with other people's best moments.

[00:03:40]>> Nobody posts a photo of their messy kitchen.

[00:03:43]>> Nobody says, "I cried in the bathroom today."

[00:03:47]>> They only show the happy, pretty, successful parts.

[00:03:52]>> So, we think everyone's life is perfect >> and ours is not. But that is not true.

[00:03:59]Everyone has hard days.

[00:04:01]>> They just don't post about it.

[00:04:05]>> Part three, money stress and work stress.

[00:04:10]>> Let's talk about another big reason for stress. Money.

[00:04:15]>> Oh yes, money stress is very real.

[00:04:18]>> Everything costs more these days.

[00:04:21]>> Rent is expensive.

[00:04:23]>> Food is expensive. Even a cup of coffee is expensive now.

[00:04:28]>> I remember when coffee was cheap. Now I feel stressed just looking at the menu.

[00:04:34]>> $6 for a coffee. Let me go home and make my own.

[00:04:39]>> And work stress is also very common.

[00:04:43]>> Many people feel like they must work harder and harder.

[00:04:47]>> But they don't get more money or more rest.

[00:04:50]>> They just get more work. And if they say no, they are afraid of losing their job.

[00:04:57]>> So they say yes to everything even when they are already full.

[00:05:02]>> Like a bag that is too full. One more thing and it will break.

[00:05:08]>> That is a great image. Many people feel exactly like that.

[00:05:14]>> And when you feel like that for too long, it becomes a big problem.

[00:05:19]>> Like burnout.

[00:05:21]>> Yes. Burnout means you are so tired from work that you cannot function anymore.

[00:05:27]>> Your body says stop. I am done.

[00:05:31]>> Part four. What does stress do to your body?

[00:05:36]>> Alex, I think many people don't know how bad stress is for the body.

[00:05:41]>> You are right. Let's talk about that.

[00:05:44]>> When you are stressed, your body thinks there is danger.

[00:05:48]>> Like a tiger is coming.

[00:05:50]>> Ha. Yes. Your body prepares to run or fight.

[00:05:56]>> Your heart beats faster.

[00:05:58]>> Your breathing gets quick.

[00:06:00]>> Your muscles get tight.

[00:06:03]>> This is useful if a tiger is really coming.

[00:06:06]>> But the tiger is just a difficult email from your boss >> and you can't run away from that.

[00:06:13]>> So your body stays in this danger mode for a long time >> and that is not good. Too much stress can cause headaches, >> bad sleep, >> stomach problems, >> feeling angry or sad for no clear reason.

[00:06:30]>> It even makes it harder to think clearly.

[00:06:34]>> So when you are very stressed, you actually work, not better.

[00:06:39]>> Stress is trying to help you, but it often makes things harder.

[00:06:45]>> Part five, how can we manage stress?

[00:06:48]Okay, enough scary facts. Let's talk about solutions.

[00:06:53]>> Yes, please. I need these.

[00:06:56]>> The first tip, take real breaks.

[00:07:00]>> Not I'll check my phone for 5 minutes breaks.

[00:07:04]>> Real breaks. Go outside, walk, look at some trees.

[00:07:10]>> Trees are free and very calming.

[00:07:13]>> I love that. Trees are free therapy.

[00:07:17]The second tip, talk to someone.

[00:07:20]>> When stress is inside your head, it feels very big.

[00:07:25]>> But when you say it out loud to a friend, it often feels smaller >> because your friend says, "Oh yes, I feel that too."

[00:07:35]>> And suddenly you feel less alone.

[00:07:38]>> The third tip, say no sometimes.

[00:07:42]>> This is hard for many people.

[00:07:45]>> Very hard. We want to be helpful.

[00:07:48]>> We don't want to disappoint anyone.

[00:07:51]>> But if you say yes to everything, you have no energy left for yourself.

[00:07:57]>> You cannot pour water from an empty cup.

[00:08:00]>> Oh, I love that saying.

[00:08:03]>> And the fourth tip, move your body.

[00:08:07]>> Exercise.

[00:08:08]>> Yes, but it doesn't have to be the gym.

[00:08:11]>> Even a short walk helps.

[00:08:14]Dancing in your kitchen also works.

[00:08:18]>> Nobody is watching, just dance.

[00:08:21]>> Movement helps your body release the stress.

[00:08:25]>> Like opening a window to let fresh air in. Part six. A little stress is okay.

[00:08:32]>> Alex, is all stress bad?

[00:08:34]>> Actually, no. A little stress can be helpful.

[00:08:38]>> Really?

[00:08:39]>> Yes. Think about a deadline. A deadline is when you must finish something by a certain time.

[00:08:46]>> Without any stress, you might not start.

[00:08:50]>> True. A little pressure helps you focus.

[00:08:53]>> Like before an exam, a little nervous feeling helps you study.

[00:08:58]>> But too much stress before an exam makes your mind go blank.

[00:09:03]>> Exactly. A little stress equals helpful.

[00:09:07]Too much stress equals harmful.

[00:09:10]So the goal is not zero stress.

[00:09:13]>> The goal is the right amount of stress >> like salt in food.

[00:09:19]>> A little salt makes food delicious.

[00:09:23]>> Too much salt and you throw the food away.

[00:09:26]>> Perfect example. Stress is like salt.

[00:09:30]Okay, let's do a quick summary.

[00:09:34]>> Stress is a feeling when life feels too much.

[00:09:38]Modern life is full of reasons to feel stressed.

[00:09:42]>> Always being online, social media, money, work.

[00:09:47]>> Too much stress is bad for your body and your mind.

[00:09:52]>> But a little stress is actually helpful >> to manage stress. Take real breaks. Talk to someone. Say no sometimes. Move your body. And remember, you cannot pour water from an empty cup. Take care of yourself first.

[00:10:13]>> Thank you so much for listening to Easy English Talks.

[00:10:17]>> Tell us in the comments what makes you stressed the most.

[00:10:22]>> Work, money, social media, or maybe your dog.

[00:10:29]See you in episode