Human Past Vs. Modern Life: A Guide for Coping with Stress

Human past was filled with dangers and it had much more life threatening situations (diseases, hunger, wild animals). However, I am convinced that the ways of the past felt much more natural and were actually healthier (no matter the death rates and tough lives of our ancestors).

The stressors of today are (mostly) not life-threatening, however, they exist in much greater number in many things that we don't even realize. We are always connected via Internet, mobile phones, numerous devices of various kinds, we are filled with not only a lot of information, but filled with unnatural, man-made noise: cars, machines and other similar things. All these things can make as more anxious as we age and we might not even realize what is the main thing that makes us anxious.

People of today are even afraid of silence. They got used to noise so much that they don't know how and can't handle the silence. Then all the anxiety that was forming kicks in and people run towards the crowds and noises, or they just turn on their TV for background noise, as the silence is making their anxiety come out.

How can we beat the everyday hidden stressors that slowly but surely ruin our lives and decrease our happiness? Well, maybe our ancestors could help us with this one.

1. Keep yourself busy as you feel useful. Contribute. No matter how much work you have, or how difficult your boss is or how much money you have, you need to keep yourself busy even outside of work and feel you are contributing to your family, your group of friends or your community. This is the natural need we have as humans deep inside of us that simply can't be achieved via Facebook, Skype or sending photos to one another. That way it is achieved only superficially and it doesn't have nearly as much value. Give gifts, talk, try a new craft or a hobby, do little and simple things, small housework if you like it. Our ancestors had their role individually for contributing to their family and tribe. Hunting, gathering, preparing food, building, are both social, necessary and valuable jobs that were connecting them. This cooperation and a lot of work and contributing is what made us human. Of course, when money and modern concept of work came into place, it all changed. But it doesn't mean you can't do anything about it, it is about your attitude. 

2. Learn to embrace silence even for just a few moments. If you feel anxious when alone, breathe deeply. Read a book. Or try to write a book. Make coffee only for yourself, or a cup of tea, whatever you like. Take a short walk alone. Or a longer one, if you feel like it. Observe. No matter what problems you have, people around you have them too. And, from the above, all our problems are the same, mostly insignificant and trivial.

3. Get active and connect to nature. Try a sport activity or anything similar. Do some work that needs using your physical strenght. This is what our body and mind needs. Spend time in nature as much as you can. If you don't like nature, than that is not natural. We are part of nature and no matter how many cities we build or how technologically advanced we get, we are part of a much bigger picture. When you start seeing yourself as a part of nature, then you have made it. You will easily find true values in life and you will learn to cope with modern life and all it's problems.