PEORIA MAGAZINE March 2022

G U E S T C O M M E N T A R Y

R esearch shows that 78 percent of Americans feel stressed at least once a week, with 15 percent saying they’re stressed every day. Women are more stressed than men. I get that, because we’re working, raising families and taking care of everyone and everything around us. Did you know that Gen Xers – people aged 41 to 55 – are the most stressed generation? I’m near the top of that bracket, but I’ve learned how to control stress by increasing my capacity. If you need a few reasons why this is worth the effort, here you go. First, stress leads to a myriad of health problems such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, headaches, accelerated aging and premature death. But if we can’t quit our jobs and stop taking care of our families, what should we do? Benjamin Franklin said, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” Why do busy people get the most done? They’ve found the way to blow the lid off their capacity, and you can, too. New York Times bestselling author John ACTIVATING OUR GEARS “Life is like a 10-speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use.” Charles Schulz BY AMY BURKETT

88 MARCH 2022 PEORIA MAGAZINE