Let them eat pie

"We must have a pie," David Mamet wrote in "Boston Marriage." "Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie."

Towards the end of the winter and during the beginning of the spring semester, days are slowly getting longer but piles of homework are simultaneously growing taller. Cause for stress? I think yes. One solution to this stressful predicament? Pie. Pie is delicious, relatively simple to bake, readily available to purchase, and perfect to enjoy with friends.

So you've decided on pie. Will you make your own pie? Go to a restaurant and order a slice? Purchase a whole pie from a store? Purchase an individual slice from a grocery store? Or have cafe courier deliver you a slice of pie? It is incredible that a need for pie can be satisfied in so many different ways. The way in which you choose to satisfy your desire for pie will be based on a variety of different values and perceptions. Here is my mind-map when navigating the pie possibilities:

• I want apple pie.
• Although going out to eat would be fun, it is too expensive.
• I should make a pie with friends, the process would be a fun activity!
• I have flour, but need apples, milk, eggs, cinnamon, and other ingredients...
• Go to the nearest grocery store and purchase ingredients.

Notice, my reasoning for not satisfying my need for pie at a restaurant was based on price. The average slice of pie at a restaurant in Bozeman is $8 or $9. The ingredients I would need to purchase in order to bake a pie would total to around $16 (six apples for $3 + a half gallon of milk $2 + 12 eggs $3 + 16 oz of unsalted butter $4 + cinnamon $4). This is not including the value of time, gas or cooking equipment required. 

Although I thought I valued low pricing, in this example, could it be argued that an underlying desire was social; to spend more time with friends? Tell me what you think. 

For fun: 

How to Avoid Making Huge Mistakes on Life Decisions

Meghan Daum's article entitled, "My Misspent Youth" resonated with me on multiple levels. Most superficially, we share a first name. We also share similar experiences involving martinis and overpriced apartments in New York City. After graduating from Bozeman High School in 2010, I too followed my dreams of living in the big apple, pursuing modeling.

Were our decisions to "follow our hearts" to New York City rational?

If you were to ask Simon Sinek (from the Ted Talk "Start With Why"), I presume his answer would be yes.

Why?

Simple. Because we started with "why." Instead of asking ourselves "how" or "what" we acted on instinct and from the core.

How is this related to stress?

When we approach life decisions from the outside in, beginning with "what" and "how" instead of "why," we often end up stressed about details beyond our control. My intention is not to downplay the important roles of preparation or logic, just to stretch your mind and offer a counterintuitive approach to decision making.

Over a century ago Louis Pasteur famously said, "Chance favors only the prepared mind."

Prepare, listen to your gut, then DO.

Ten Tips for Stress Management

The first week of classes is undeniably a stressful period of time. After a month long break of sweet treats, refreshments (and debauchery?) we are displaced back into academia. Following is a list of tips compiled to help YOU navigate your new syllabi with ease:

1. Have an orgasm. In sexologist Beverly Whipple's book, "The Orgasms Answer Guide," she discusses the benefits of orgasm backed by results of scientific studies conducted by Carol Rinklieb Ellison (2000) and scientists at Groningen University in the Netherlands, among others. One limitation of this source is that it explores only female orgasm, but evidence is clear and conclusive: Orgasm reduces stress and anxiety producing instead feelings of warmth and relaxation.
2. "Bye, Felicia." Avoiding people who cause you to feel anxious is worth the extra few steps it takes to avoid them. If you feel your jaw tightening when a certain coworker is around, make an effort to distance yourself from your coworker (respectfully, of course!).
3. Face shots at Bridger. By no means am I encouraging you to skip your Consumer Behavior class for a powder day, but I am encouraging you to "ditch part of your to-do list" as the Mayo Clinic puts it. Once you prioritize your tasks, and you have completed the "A" and "B" tasks close your laptop and treat yourself to something you enjoy. Your tasks upon return will seem less daunting after you have refreshed. 
4. Breathe. About two years ago now I received my yoga teaching certificate, which completely revolutionized the way I approach life. Here are two quick breathing methods to release stress while studying. Method one: Breathe in through your nose. Draw your breath deep into your low belly (below your belly button). Breathe in as slowly as you can until your lungs are at capacity, then pause at the top of your breath. Release your breath out the mouth even slower than you inhaled, and repeat. Method two: While inhaling lift your shoulders all the way to your earlobes. Upon exhalation, release your shoulders slowly and completely. 
5. Get support from trusted friends, family or a professional. Venting to people who you trust can help relieve you of the burden on your shoulders. This can be as formal as seeking a psychologist, or as informal as chatting with friends over dinner.
6. Yoga. Yes, I already mentioned yogic-breathing, but the practice of yoga itself has benefits as well. Moving as little as 20 minutes per day can significantly reduce stress levels, advises Forbes. Movement does not have to be yoga, it could be swimming, walking, lifting, basketball, ect...
7. Lower your standards. And by this I mean, set realistic goals for yourself. Focus on progress, not perfection. 
8. Sleep. "Sleep is so crucial that even slight sleep deprivation or poor sleep can affect memory, judgement and mood." Although it is tempting to pass out at 4 am and wake up with a triple-frappe-spresso-BLAH at 6 am, it is not healthy or efficient. Source of quote: American Psychological Association.
9. LOL (laugh out loud). According to the Mayo Clinic, laughter just may be the best medicine. The clinic cites pain relief, mood enhancement, and increase in personal satisfaction as benefits, among others (read full article here).
10. Play with Fido. Until recently, there has been little conclusive research on the positive interaction between humans and their animal companions. Current research reveals strong correlation between pets and lower stress levels. Put down your pencil and play with a Frisbee!
11. Make Stress Your Friend. This is my personal favorite. In her Ted Talk on stress management, Kelly McGonigal reveals the connection between stress and your perception of it: Stress affects you how you BELIEVE it will.  In marketing research classes, we learn about eustress (positive stress) and distress (negative stress), but nothing quite as revolutionary as "stress belief," as Kelly McGonigal refers to it. Her fifteen minute video will change how you think about stress for good.

How do you combat/perceive stress? Do you resonate with one of the tips above, or have another method? I'm anxious to hear!