How to keep your cool when things heat up!

Here’s a question – how do you keep your cool when things heat up? We started thinking about this last week when the weatherperson predicted a long run of very hot weather, with possibly record-breaking temperatures. And guess what happened to us. The air conditioners in each of our cars went out. Then to top it off, the air conditioner in our home died! Yes, died and could not be resuscitated. However, we were fortunate that, due to a last-minute cancellation, the company came out the next day and installed a new air conditioner. Otherwise, we would have had to wait about two weeks in sweltering heat. We felt blessed and really enjoyed the cool air that we might have previously taken for granted. We hope your environment is comfortable.

These incidents got us thinking further of a metaphor about what you can do to keep your cool, not only physically but mentally, when things heat up with too much stress, frustration and even anger.

If you look at what is happening when you are stressed, your body is trying to get you ready to take action with a lot of adrenaline being pumped out. Also, during stress, carbs get converted into sugar and that helps muscles get stronger. This might explain why people have experienced what’s called hysterical strength. Although somewhat rare, people have had super-human strength in life-threatening situations. Additionally, stress may contribute to a literal “heating up” as body temperature can rise with something called “psychogenic fever”. Cortisol is a stress hormone that’s also excreted and it negatively affects blood pressure and metabolism, lowers the immune system and increases inflammation. Your body is getting you primed for the stress reactions of fight, flee or freeze.

If you were being chased by a wild animal, stress reactions might be expected. However, in today’s world, the body also responds in similar ways when there’s stress from work, finances, relationships and other responsibilities of life. There are inevitably some stresses in life so let’s look at ways you can stay cool when the stress in your life heats up.

One thing you can do is to avoid or remove yourself from the stressful situation. Often taking a time-out will allow you to cool down and put things in perspective. Stay positive and laugh. Stretch, exercise and dance as you are able. Being with supportive people, meditating and going to a peaceful place are stress-reducers. We suggest thinking about a special place where you feel calm and relaxed. It might be in nature. If you can’t go to that place physically, you may feel better from just visioning the place in your mind. Also, people often find diaphragmatic breathing helpful by taking deep, slow breaths in through the nose to a count of 4 and then breathing out slowly through pursed lips for a count of 7.

To find out how some other people stay cool when things heat up and get tense, we went to Lake Ann Park. We met some nice people who shared their strategies. Sam Byro told us, “When things get tough and stressful, I like to come to the beach to get away from everything, get out in nature. Other than that, I like to go to the gym and workout and release all the stress and aggression.” Then Coty Malmgren chimed in to tell us how he stays cool. Coty said, ”It’s just about getting out and separating yourself from the all-day, everyday chaos. Just kind of getting out there and not thinking about everything that is going on.” Jordan Hambor told us her strategies, “When I get stressed, I usually spend some time at home with my cats or I come to the beach and spend some time with some friends. I go for a walk in nature and it’s basically just being around people that are not part of what is causing your everyday stress. That makes it easier to deal with, when you do have to deal with stress.” These people shared some good ideas on how to cool down when things get heated up.

How about you? What do you do to keep cool?

Here’s a challenge: When stressful situations can’t be avoided, we encourage you to stay positive and use some of the ways that have been suggested to make stressful situations better. Lailah Gifty Akita said, “Keep calm and keep learning.” Recognize that stressful situations provide opportunities to learn new ways so you can be even better prepared to keep your cool the next time things heat up.

Chanhassen residents Doug and Lynn Nodland are Success Coaches and owners of The Balance Center. They can be contacted at WeCare@SharingLifesLessons.com

© Doug and Lynn Nodland 2018 Articles and videos may be shared in their entirety with attribution.