Change can be stressful.
I was reminded of this during my recent TED Talk at the National Conference for Advocis, the Financial Advisors Association of Canada.
I spoke about succession planning, which can be fraught with conflict, fear and paralysis when there is no plan.
Thankfully, we had a plan when my father retired in 2014, which was a big reason we were able to navigate that change successfully. Having a plan certainly helps reduce stress.
We all experience stress. Even reading the word increases stress.
When you feel it, your adrenal glands go to work to produce more stress hormones that prepare your body for emergency action – fight or flight. Like running from a grizzly bear.
But normally, we aren’t running from a bear. At least not a physical bear.
Rather, we are dealing with modern bears. Change, relationships, financial worries, work issues, time constraints, and more.
Some stress is good. Too much, not so good. Here are 5 interesting facts you might want to know (don’t stress out, though):
- Stress can make you gain weight
- Stress can kill brain cells
- Stress is linked to all six leading causes of death
- Stress alters your blood sugar
- Women are generally better at dealing with stress.
“Oh, great,” you are saying. Stressing about stress.
In a recent study of 1,200 elderly people, the participants were asked what their biggest regret was in life. Many stated, “I wish I hadn’t worried so much.”
From the vantage point of late life, the study showed that if people had the chance, they would love to be able to regain all the lost time they spent fretting anxiously about the future.
Stress is an obstacle to an abundant retirement. It robs us of joy.
Having the right plan in place and updating it regularly will significantly reduce your stress about the future.
Not sure if you are on the right path?
Get your plan stress-tested.
Our testing process unveils unknown and unknown pitfalls and gaps in your current plan.
There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain. And… it’s the clear path to less stress.
“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
