The End of Stress Lies in the Here and Now

Introduction

Have you ever felt like the world is closing on you? It’s not surprising. We’re overwhelmed with information, with expectations stretching beyond reasonable. We lose ourselves in the “shoulds” and distant worries when, in reality, what affects us is much closer: our immediate surroundings and the present moment. If we learn to inhabit this limited space, we not only give our minds a break, but we also begin to free ourselves from the invisible chains of stress, anxiety, and depression. “He who controls his mind controls his world,” said the wise Buddha. And how wise he was because when you focus on what you can touch, see, and feel, you become the master of the most precious thing: your peace.

Global Fatigue: The Mirage of Omnipotence

We have become accustomed to living under the illusion that we must be aware of everything, from crises on the other side of the world to the latest trends on social media. In the era of hyperconnectivity, it seems like there’s no room for a pause. Every notification pulls us into a new drama, a new urgency. But here’s a question: can you do something about all that? Epictetus summarized it brilliantly: “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” Sure, it’s impactful to hear about what’s happening in a country you’ll never visit or in the life of someone you’ll never meet. But the harsh truth is that most of these situations are beyond your control. So, why do they continue to affect you? The problem is that we’ve been convinced we must be omnipresent. If we don’t respond to the pulse of global information, it feels like we’re out of the game, as if we’re falling behind. But the cost is very high. In this attempt to encompass everything, we end up being less. We feel empty and exhausted. We disconnect from our center. This mirage of omnipotence drains us. The reality is that what happens to us is local, and what we can change is local, too. As Viktor Frankl said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Returning to the Here and Now: A Lifeline

We’ve forgotten the essentials: the now and what surrounds us. We drift through life with one foot in the past and the other in the future. Worries about what we did wrong or what could go wrong become a constant background noise. And the present? We leave it adrift without truly living it. Lao Tzu said: “If you are depressed, you live in the past; if you are anxious, you live in the future; if you are at peace, you live in the present.” This simple phrase reminds us of a profound truth that we rarely apply. But how many times have we been here? How often are our daily actions in sync with our minds and hearts? The trick is simple, though not always easy: things become manageable when you focus on the local, both in space and time. You don’t need to solve the world’s problems. Just your own. That’s your proper sphere of influence. The limited space you occupy and the moment you live are all you have. That’s where your life is played out. Returning to the present is like breathing again after holding your breath for too long. Let the rest dissolve.

Strategies to Reconnect with the Local

1. Focus on what you can control

This is the basic principle of many ancient philosophies, from Stoicism to Buddhism: what truly impacts your well-being are the small daily things and your close relationships. Everything else is noise. Don’t waste your energy worrying about things you have no control over. A good exercise is to list the things that cause you stress or anxiety. Then, separate them into two columns: what you can change and can’t. That way, you’ll realize that much of what worries you is not even in your hands.

2. Practice informational disconnection

We live in an age of information overload. But you don’t need to know everything. Being selective with what you consume is an act of self-care. Set precise times for consuming information, and ensure that information truly adds something to your life. Disconnecting is not being uninformed; it’s preserving your mental space. Take breaks from social media. Limit the time you spend on it. Remember that your mind needs to rest, too. Choose wisely what you consume because much of what enters your mind serves no purpose but to exhaust you.

3. Strengthen your close relationships.

We spend hours and hours in front of screens, connecting with people who, most of the time, are not part of our daily lives. Meanwhile, the people who matter most often receive what’s left of our time and energy. We forget that real connections, the fulfilling ones, happen face-to-face. John Donne reminds us: “No man is an island.” And yet, we constantly isolate ourselves behind a device. Dedicate time to nurturing the relationships that truly matter. Ask yourself how much time you devote to those who care. The shared coffee, the deep conversation, the simple act of being present. These are the experiences that bring us back to the here and now.

4. Create a mindful routine

Having a routine is not synonymous with monotony but with structure. A mindful routine allows you to focus on what is truly important. Planning your day with intention helps you avoid falling into the inertia trap. Don’t let life just pass you by. Establish small activities that connect you with your immediate reality. Being productive is not the ultimate goal. What matters is that you feel you were present in what you did.

In a world that constantly drags us toward the global, returning to the present and what surrounds us is a revolutionary act. It’s where we find calm. Returning to the simple, to the immediate, to the tangible. As Tolstoy summarized simply but powerfully: “There are only two invincible warriors: time and patience.” Taking the time to live in the present is the most rebellious and healing act you can do.

So, which warrior will you choose to be today?

Author: Fabian Mesaglio