We're Too Stressed (Speech)

We're too Stressed I lost my English project- it's worth 90% of my grade! Even worse- its due *next class!* Have you seen it anywhere? No??? You are no help. Where did I leave it? Well, if I knew, I wouldn't be asking you now, would I?? Lets see.. I either left it at my house, the library, maybe St...

We're too Stressed I lost my English project- it's worth 90% of my grade! Even worse- its due *next class!* Have you seen it anywhere? No??? You are no help. Where did I leave it? Well, if I knew, I wouldn't be asking you now, would I?? Lets see.. I either left it at my house, the library, maybe Starbucks when I was yelling at that lady, or practically *anywhere* in the school! Maybe you took it! No\... *How* did I lose it?! Ugh! Well, I'm stressed; and you have probably been too. In fact, APA reports over 90% of Americans state they've experienced mental or physical stress in the past month. Many are working-class citizens, or students just like you and me. Whether it's anything from a missing English project to World War III, I stand today to discuss *everything* stress. So first, let's dive into its causes and stereotypes. Then, we'll swing through their respective effects, both mental *and* physical. Finally, let's settle down by focusing on solutions to this *debilitating* everyday reality. Believe it or not, stress is *prominent* in the lives of almost every American, at least at one time or another. Yet, it\'s almost completely *unnoticeable* in our education system and workforce. Why? We suppress our mental health in order to stay afloat or advance in everyday life, bringing me to my first cause: Society expects us to ignore our daily stressors. Stress in America 2023 reports quote "the long-term stress sustained since the Covid-19 pandemic began has had a significant impact on well-being, evidenced by an increase in chronic illnesses---especially among those between the ages of 35 and 44, which increased from 48% reported in 2019 to 58% in 2023." This proves that our materialistic economy was not the only entity affected by the virus, but that the ordinary person also suffered extensive consequences. Now, let\'s talk about the *how* and *why* of stress by discussing one of its leading causes: the possibility of success. Melanie Muse of 2021 states quote "The expectation of success can be overwhelming, especially for students and younger generations. As some of the voices of this generation, we *share* those pressures of being successful. We share the wonders of the future." While our steady advancement is healthy for a thriving country, oftentimes it causes more harm than help within the minds of the younger generation. Whether it\'s academics or scoring a higher-up position, or maybe even for the simple purpose of respect, our younger generation is feeling the negative effects of an advancing economy, and *that* is putting our very citizens at mental *and* physical risk. Now, let's talk effects. Dance teacher and reality TV star Abby Lee Miller once said, "tears are for the pillow", encouraging stress to be pushed away, saved for later. When we take advice like this, we deny our stress of existence, and while it can boost productivity in the short-term, in the long term, it is often *detrimental* to overall morale. APA of '22 states quote "Americans are struggling with multiple external stressors that are out of their personal control, with 27% reporting that most days they are so stressed they cannot function, according to a [poll conducted for the American Psychological Association](https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2022/concerned-future-inflation)." Stress can be felt as deeply as even physical pain, substantially impairing work productivity in the direst cases. Even with all this evidence of the consequences stress imposes on citizens and the economy, Forbes 2023 reports less than 15% of companies and employers recognize stress as a need for a day-off. While they may believe this will benefit themselves, evidence proves just the opposite. In fact, studies show team productivity and morale are *boosted* as a result of permitted stress induced breaks. Moreover, It is unfair and inhume to force certain americans to choose between their mental health and their paycheck. And for those who live paycheck-to-paycheck, is it sacrificing mental health, or their next meal? This is a matter of morality's sake: *no one* should be forced to make that decision. Now, let's focus on who pressure attacks. The bottom line is, it limits the abilities of *everyone*- young and old. Though still, its true that it effects some more than others. Take it from Mental Health UK, who states "An online stress survey has found that six out of ten young people aged 18--24 have felt so stressed by the pressure to succeed they have felt unable to cope. The survey -- commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation -- also found that almost half of young people had experienced significant stress in relation to body image and worries about their appearance. Almost six out of ten young people said they have become stressed because of a fear of making mistakes. Meanwhile, three out of ten of young people said they had self-harmed due to high levels of stress." Here, the statistics speak for themselves: while success is pushing our society forward, the effect on our younger generation is also effectively holding us back. We repeatedly tell our young to *be something*, to quote-on-quote "make us proud", though even just those words push some over their limits. Competition for academic success or workplace success is often, *just too much,* in turn "locking them out" of their full potential. Luckily for us, there are *plenty* of ways we can recognize and reorganize our mental game. While, yes, everyone may have different strategies, here\'s one that recurringly helps across the board. The NIH of '23 tells us about mindfulness, a practice that can encompass a variety of activities. It can involve anything from sitting alone in a quiet space to a few deep breaths in the middle of a busy day. The bottom line is, mindfulness entails focusing on your breathing or sensations in the body, grounding and finding inner peace. *Breathe in, breathe out.* If your mind wanders---like thoughts popping in about the *never-ending* list of things you need to do, or resentment for a random lady in Starbucks--- simply let those thoughts fly away. Try to return your mind to the present moment. You can integrate the practice into things you do every day, like walking or eating. You can also be mindful while interacting with others. We can all use mindfulness to our benefit, and being one of the easiest coping mechanisms, there's no excuse to avoid it. *Breathe in breathe out*. In our advancing society, stress levels are *skyrocketing*, and the mindfulness we've talked about today is the most productive way to combat it. We've already talked about the harm pressure can cause, now lets talk about how we can level that stressor. HCI of '23 shows us just the right method. "Building self-awareness, identifying triggers, practicing coping strategies, and embracing pressure will enable you to navigate challenging situations with confidence and achieve your full potential. Remember, the journey towards mastering pressure management is ongoing, and continual self-reflection and improvement are key to long-term success." Developing the ability to deal with overwhelming pressure in a progressive manner is a critical skill for professional success. When we utilize strategies like the ones quoted, we can work to overcome current state of constant stress, especially that regarding our youngest generation. (breath) I just want to say, im sorry about earlier. Maybe I was a *little* passive aggressive and dramatic about the english project. But now that we've discussed the causes, effects, and solutions of our overstressed society, I hope we can overcome our perpetual pressure, whatever the cause may be. With the need for change I\'ve proved today, let\'s bounce *back* from our bump in the road. It's time to make a change, English project in hand or not.