Why do we romanticize stress?

In a flurry of checking email, Twitter news, to-do lists and also trying to eat dinner on my way to a meeting, I noticed a question posed on a trending article. It read, “Why Do We Romanticize Stress?” The brief headline posing an all-too-relevant question flashed quickly across my newsfeed, but stuck with me for days afterward. In this day and age, romanticizing stress into this idealistic state of importance and busyness is all too common, and probably promoting more problems than we realize.

Just this past week, I’ve overheard many conversations that revolved around one-upping each other to compare who was actually more overwhelmed. It’s as if actually have eight research papers, a job and extra-curricular activities makes a person more qualified to be stressed and have an air of egotistical importance. I can’t say I’m immune to this perpetual tendency, but I’m coming to realize how it is harmful.

For instance, in a world of comparing each other's beauty, finances or online fame value, the last thing I need to add is comparing my stress to others'. Comparison strains relationships with friends and loved ones because instead of valuing certain qualities or characteristics of a person, their accomplishments and character is quantified into an often-inaccurate measure based on a number of likes or shares. Value isn't always easily quantifiable and thus not grounds for comparison. Even if you have a test and three papers to write after your two meetings, chances are that other people are just as stressed about different things. Don't make assumptions about others, just so you can measure up in your own mind.

Not only does focusing on stress affect our relationships with friends and family, but it also keeps us from enjoying the little parts of everyday life. Being busy is addicting and quickly consumes not only time, but also emotional and physical energy. So let’s all do our personal health a favor and not compete for the most dramatic, stressful list of complaints or to-do’s. Stress isn’t the goal.