How often do you sit still
and do absolutely nothing? The usual answer these days is "never", or "hardly
ever". As the pace of life continues to increase, we are fast losing the art of
relaxation. Once you are in the habit of rushing through life, it is hard to
slow down and unwind. But relaxation is essential for a healthy mind and
body. Stress is a natural part of everyday life. There is no way
to avoid it, since it takes many and varied forms—driving in traffic, problems
with personal relationships are all different forms of stress. Stress, in fact,
is not the "baddy" as it is often reputed to be. A certain amount of stress is
vital to provide motivation and give purpose to life. it is only when the stress
gets out of control that it can lead to level performance and ill
health. The amount of stress a person can withstand depends very
much on the individual. Some people thrive on stress, and such characters are
obviously prime materials for managerial (管理的) responsibilities. Others crumple
at the sight of unusual difficulties. When exposed to stress, in
whatever form, we react both chemically and physically. In fact we invoke the
"fight" mechanism which in more primitive days made the difference between life
or death. The crises we meet today are unlikely to be so extreme, but however
minimal the stress, it involves the same response. All the energy is diverted to
cope with the stress, with the result that other functions, such as digestion,
are neglected. It is when such reaction is prolonged, through
continued exposure to stress, that health becomes endangered. Such serious
conditions as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease (冠心病) all have
established links with stress. The way stress affects a per son also varies with
the individual. Stress in some people produces stomach disorders, while others
succumb to tension headaches. Since we cannot remove stress from our lives, we
need to find ways to cope with it.
单选题
The reason that many people find it hard to relax these days is that ______.