Unstressable by Mo Gawdat and Alice Law

The biggest negative impact the harshness of life brings is found in the years we spend fearing it and the years we spend allowing it to linger.
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In a nutshell

Written by Mo Gawdat, the former Chief Business Officer of Google and bestselling author of Solve for Happy, and Alice Law, a Stress Management Coach, Unstressable is a practical guide to stress free living. Unstressable uncovers the mechanics of stress and how it manifests in our lives physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. The idea is that once you understand the mechanics you are able to see how stress is actually predictable and thus preventable. The hope of this book is that by the end of it you will be able to recognise your stressors and use the tips gleaned to turn those stressful moments into moments of growth.

Book Club Notes

While the authors broke the heavy neuroscience and psychology with personal anecdotes and examples which helped make it relatable, I struggled to read this book. Upon finishing it, there was very little that stuck with me and I personally didn’t find it to be practical. It could be because I’ve read other stress books which have already given me the foundation of managing stress, or that my all-time favorite book on stress – The Stress Code feels more practical and actionable, giving me physical things to do instead of tips that feel more “airy fairy”. In a nutshell, it’s not a book that resonated with me – leaving no strong impression.

The difference between worry, anxiety and panic and how to manage them

One of my favorite nuggets from this book (because every book has at least one) is the difference between three stress responses – worry, anxiety and panic – and how to deal with each of them. Oftentimes we start stressing before the challenge we anticipate even hits us, leading us into cycles of stress about a future that has not yet happened. That stress manifests in one of three ways

Worry – when worried we are not sure if the threat is even real, we’re just concerned about it. When you find yourself worrying, focus on finding clarity on whether your worry is even real.

Anxiety – when anxious you’re concerned not with the threat but with your ability to deal with it. When anxious, focus on your skills. Verify if you truly don’t have the skills you need, or if your mind is exaggerating.

Panic – when panicked you’re concerned with the element of time. We panic when a threat seems imminent. If you feel panicked, look for what you can do to grant yourself more time.