Did the word “recession” in the title get your pulse racing in a little bit of a panic? That stress response is exactly what drives people to make rash decisions. Which is exactly what we’re talking about today.

We human beings are pretty damn reactive. Which isn’t always a good thing. Reactions are not always conscious decisions, and not always aligned with what you really want deep down.

Take “cuffing season” for example. Did you know that relationship statuses tend to change with the weather? 

According to this article in The Guardian, cuffing season is coming. Cuffing season refers to the collective rush of singles to couple up as the weather gets colder and the days get shorter. I was surprised even Lizzo is encouraging all of us to cuddle up with a boo! (Ok, Lizzo, I see you)

Sure, “Cuffing Season” might just be a coincidence in the correlation between relationship status and colder weather. Maybe people are coupling up because everyone else is finding a partner. But it shows a pattern of behavior that could show how we as human beings are reacting to our situations instead of actually taking the reins in our life and making decisions from an empowered place.

And just like when the weather turns colder and we turn to a warm body for comfort, it’s not surprising if threats of financial instability turn us to a nearby cuddle buddy for comfort.

Maybe you’ve noticed there is a low grade level of fear and anxiety about the economy. Things have been going well for so long that many financial “experts” are warning that it can’t last forever and the other shoe is going to drop sooner or later. 

This kind of stress is toxic, and this probably isn’t news to you. You are probably well aware of how stress wreaks havoc in your life.

But the sneaky way that stress is negatively changing you and your behavior is that it makes you more reactive instead of proactive.

When you are in a reactive state you are not thinking logically, you are jumping from a heightened emotional state. Often you’re in fight-flight-freeze mode where you are just trying to protect yourself for survival.

This is not the place where you’re making good decisions for your long term success and happiness.

So what do you do about it?!?! How do you fix it?

Take a deep breath. I got you. Let’s break this down a little bit, ok?

The first step is to notice when you’re stressed. Common signs are shallow breathing, tight muscles, and racing thoughts. You might also want to think back on a recent time when you knew you were stressed, maybe it was right before a deadline at work or before a first date. How was your body responding to this situation? Did your stomach tighten? Did you have behaviors that you do to try to cope with the stress? (For example: I notice I drink a lot more coffee when I’m stressed, and when I notice I’m on that third or fourth cup I have to call Time Out on myself to figure out what’s going on.)

After you recognize that you’re feeling stressed, the next step is to deal with that stress. And I don’t mean push it down and ignore it until it goes away. I mean, actually handle it and dissolve it.

Take a few deep breaths. Even three deep, slow breaths will help you to calm down.

You may also enjoy giving yourself a hug by crossing your arms right over left and squeezing yourself. Or try wrapping yourself tightly in a cozy blanket.

When you feel things slow down and come back into the present moment, now you can actually handle what is in front of you. You can tap into the part of your brain that can make logical decisions.

This is you taking control of your life.

And if you decide that you’d like a new sweetie during the recession, you can go out and do that in a way that keeps you sane. Not the panic or desperation that comes with reacting to stress.

That connection will lead you to much deeper levels of satisfaction and happiness. And connecting from a place where you’re feeling strong and NOT panicking? Well, that’s going to be that much sweeter.

Did this resonate for you? I want to hear from you. Do you feel compelled to couple up during cold weather or scary financial times? Drop a comment below to tell me why.