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Long-term stress is the default mode of the 21st century

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Re: Long-term stress is the default mode of the 21st century

#41

Post by ChrisLTD »

arvinsim wrote: post #28
zuhayeer wrote: post #26

"The very structures, processes which keep the lights on, our economies running and our governments functioning create the conditions which remove people from experiencing nature, the unexpected joy of boredom and developing strong social and community bonds." This reminded me of Maker's Schedule vs Manager's Schedule and how this is largely a result of packing our calendars into hour to hour increments Monday - Frid…

I made the mistake of applying the hourly schedule to my personal life and it's horrible. I had to always update my calendar seems things never go as planned. I also was having anxiety even in my off days since I feel that I have to "hit" the schedules planned out in my calendar.

I’ve tried and backed off the same idea. Funny enough, I also recently read that Cal Newport strictly advises people not to use time blocking for their after work schedules for similar reasons.

Re: Long-term stress is the default mode of the 21st century

#42

Post by natmaka »

etripe wrote: post #39
LatteLazy wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A few lines that help me: Stress is when you're responsible for something you cannot actually control. Anything else might be pressure or life. But if you cannot control it, you can't actually be responsible for it...

As one of the great philosophers of our time, Whitney Cummings, puts it: "let go or be dragged".

Enchiridion of Epictetus: https://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/dep/dep102.htm

Re: Long-term stress is the default mode of the 21st century

#43

Post by prower »

LatteLazy wrote: post #30

We support ever more people not working. That means workers have to work harder for a smaller share. So workers suffer long term stress. So more of them drop out of work and the problem gets worse...

- If people are overworked and the employer can get away by burning out every employee, then the unions are not doing their job properly.

- If less people are required to do the same amount of work, it means you're automating sucessfully, and that you should tax automation to compensate. Having an automated robot/script working 24/7 shouldn't relieve the company from its inherent social responsibilities.

- If the above is not happening, the people in charge are failing their job or acting in bad faith, and should be replaced and held responsible in either case.

Re: Long-term stress is the default mode of the 21st century

#44

Post by cafard »

Ah, the good old 20th Century. Two massively destructive world wars. Perfectly awful working conditions for those in heavy industry for at least the first third. Appalling conditions in Russia and China for a great deal of it. Famines and mass dislocations in the Indian subcontinent.

Re: Long-term stress is the default mode of the 21st century

#45

Post by mensetmanusman »

scottlocklin wrote: post #15

Yeah, no. While it's true that modern upper middle class anglosphere urbanites torture themselves with completely optional neurotic bullshit, most of the rest of the world is pretty relaxed and may even experience a higher standard of living.

Ya, it’s interesting how materially ‘poor’ countries have citizens with more enjoyable lives (by any subjective measure, because you can’t objectively measure how someone is feeling).

Re: Long-term stress is the default mode of the 21st century

#47

Post by etripe »

natmaka wrote: post #42
etripe wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As one of the great philosophers of our time, Whitney Cummings, puts it: "let go or be dragged".

Enchiridion of Epictetus: https://www.sacred-texts.com/cla/dep/dep102.htm

Interesting, thanks!

Re: Long-term stress is the default mode of the 21st century

#48

Post by finnthehuman »

cafard wrote: post #44

Ah, the good old 20th Century. Two massively destructive world wars. Perfectly awful working conditions for those in heavy industry for at least the first third. Appalling conditions in Russia and China for a great deal of it. Famines and mass dislocations in the Indian subcontinent.

It's possible the subjective experience could be harder for those living now, even as the objective one has gotten better.

Society doesn't teach coping well; and while it's still rare there are growing segments that actively disparage the idea of coping when the stressor is something they want "fixed."

Furthermore most media and advertising rely on stirring up disquiet to grow their audience.

Re: Long-term stress is the default mode of the 21st century

#49

Post by t0mbstone »

function_seven wrote: post #5
kernel_pancake wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can’t one define ‘useful’ and ‘useless’ stress? For example, stress experienced when learning something challenging would be useful stress, while ruminating about issues we have no control over would be useless stress.

I’ll give it a shot. Useful stress is something you can relieve through action. You study and learn the thing, and pass the test. Or you have that difficult conversation. Once you go through it, you feel a sense of pride and accomplishment (sorry). Useless stress is what you feel when you’ve think you’re going to lose your job, or a loved one is sick, or a brush fire is burning a mile away from your house. It’s out o…

I like this clarification.

If you work out for half an hour and then get off the treadmill, you feel great and accomplished. This is a manageable amount of stress.

But for comparison, imagine if you have to run on that treadmill day after day after day, only getting off for regimented breaks and the bare minimum amount of rest required, and you are only allowed two weeks of vacation a year and then it's back to the treadmill. And if you ever stop running on the treadmill, you lose your house and ability to feed yourself and provide care for your family... It gradually wears your soul down to a nub.

Re: Long-term stress is the default mode of the 21st century

#50

Post by throw7 »

t0mbstone wrote: post #49
function_seven wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ll give it a shot. Useful stress is something you can relieve through action. You study and learn the thing, and pass the test. Or you have that difficult conversation. Once you go through it, you feel a sense of pride and accomplishment (sorry). Useless stress is what you feel when you’ve think you’re going to lose your job, or a loved one is sick, or a brush fire is burning a mile away from your house. It’s out o…

I like this clarification. If you work out for half an hour and then get off the treadmill, you feel great and accomplished. This is a manageable amount of stress. But for comparison, imagine if you have to run on that treadmill day after day after day, only getting off for regimented breaks and the bare minimum amount of rest required, and you are only allowed two weeks of vacation a year and then it's back to the t…

Yes, that's called "overtraining". :)
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