6 Questions about Stress and How to Avoid It (C1 Level)
- To what extent do you believe modern technology, particularly the “always-on” culture of emails and social media, is a primary catalyst for chronic stress, and what strategies could be employed to mitigate its impact?
- Some argue that a certain level of stress (eustress) is essential for peak performance and motivation. Where do you draw the line between beneficial and detrimental stress in a professional or academic context?
- Discuss the efficacy of corporate wellness programmes. Are initiatives like mindfulness seminars and yoga classes merely superficial placations, or can they genuinely address the root causes of workplace stress?
- How can individuals cultivate a mindset of resilience and cognitive reframing to better handle inevitable stressors, rather than attempting to eliminate stress entirely, which is often an unattainable goal?
- In an increasingly isolated society, what role do robust social support networks play as a buffer against stress? Is the quality of these connections more critical than the quantity?
- Evaluate the long-term effectiveness of common stress-management techniques, such as physical exercise or hobbies. Do they provide a sustainable solution, or do they sometimes serve as a temporary distraction from underlying issues that need to be confronted?
6 Opinions on Stress to Discuss (C1 Level)
Here are 6 different opinions to spark discussion. To what extent do you agree or disagree, and why?
- The Performance-Oriented Opinion: “The pervasive narrative that stress is an enemy to be eliminated is fundamentally flawed. In reality, learning to harness and manage stress is what drives growth and achievement. A completely stress-free life would be a life devoid of ambition and meaningful challenge.”
- The Systemic Critique Opinion: “The onus on individuals to practice ‘self-care’ and mindfulness is often a way for organisations and governments to sidestep their responsibility. True stress reduction requires systemic change, such as legislating for a four-day work week and enforcing the ‘right to disconnect’.”
- The Technological Opinion: “Our modern stress epidemic is less about the volume of work and more about the constant, fragmented nature of our attention, fuelled by digital notifications. The most critical skill for the 21st century is not time management, but intentional and rigorous attention management.”
- The Philosophical Opinion: “A significant source of our stress stems from a refusal to accept uncertainty and a lack of control. The most profound antidote isn’t a technique, but a shift in perspective: focusing energy only on what is within our sphere of influence and letting go of the rest, a concept found in Stoic philosophy.”
- The Avoidance vs. Confrontation Opinion: “Many popular ‘stress avoidance’ strategies, such as losing oneself in a hobby or exercise, are merely sophisticated forms of avoidance. True management requires directly confronting the source of the stress, no matter how uncomfortable, and resolving it—avoidance only prolongs the agony.”
- The Personal Agency Opinion: “While external factors contribute, chronic stress is frequently a symptom of poor personal boundaries and an inability to prioritise. People often complain of being overworked and overwhelmed, yet fail to say ‘no’ to non-essential demands, both professionally and socially.”
6 idioms most used concerning the topic, with explanations and sample sentences.
6 Idioms About Stress
1. At the end of one’s rope
- Explanation: To be completely exhausted, out of patience, and unable to deal with a difficult situation any longer. It evokes the image of someone hanging from a rope with no length left to hold onto.
- Sample Sentence: “After the third major project deadline in a week with no support from her team, Sarah was truly at the end of her rope.”
2. To be at breaking point
- Explanation: To be under such severe stress that one is on the verge of collapse, a mental or emotional breakdown, or an outburst. It suggests that one’s capacity to endure has almost been reached.
- Sample Sentence: “The constant pressure from his investors and the sleepless nights have pushed him to breaking point; he desperately needs a holiday.”
3. To bite someone’s head off
- Explanation: To respond to someone with sudden and extreme anger or irritation, often disproportionately to what they have done. This idiom illustrates how stress can make a person irrationally short-tempered.
- Sample Sentence: “I know you’re stressed about the presentation, but there’s no need to bite my head off; I was just asking if you wanted a coffee.”
4. To be like a pressure cooker
- Explanation: To describe a situation or a person who is containing intense emotions, stress, or tension that is building up and is likely to be released suddenly and violently.
- Sample Sentence: “The office has been like a pressure cooker all week, and you could feel the tension was about to explode at any moment.”
5. To have a lot on one’s plate
- Explanation: To have a large amount of work to do or many problems to deal with simultaneously. It’s a common idiom for describing a heavy workload or numerous responsibilities that are a source of stress.
- Sample Sentence: “I’m sorry, I can’t take on any new clients right now; I simply have too much on my plate as it is.”
6. To burn the candle at both ends
- Explanation: To overwork oneself by doing too much, especially by working late at night and starting again early in the morning. It describes a lifestyle that is unsustainable and a direct route to burnout.
- Sample Sentence: “You’re burning the candle at both ends—working all day and studying all night. It’s an efficient way to reach breaking point.”
6 different short stories
1. Elena: The Project Manager
Elena stared at the Gantt chart, her vision blurring. The client had moved the deadline forward for the third time, and two of her key team members had just called in sick. The ping of another Slack notification made her jump. She had tried to be patient, but when her intern asked a simple question about the filing system, she bit his head off. The stunned silence on the other end of the call made her instantly regretful. “I’m so sorry, James,” she sighed, massaging her temples. “It’s not you. This project is just pushing me to my limit.”
2. Ben: The New Father
Between the 3 a.m. feedings, a crying baby, and a mountain of unwashed bottles, Ben felt like he was running on empty. His boss was still expecting the same output, and his wife was equally exhausted. When he accidentally spilled coffee on his keyboard, he didn’t just get annoyed; he slammed his fist on the desk, shocking himself with his own reaction. He was a calm person, but the relentless sleep deprivation and pressure had turned him into a pressure cooker, and the steam was finally starting to whistle out.
3. Chloe: The Small Business Owner
Chloe’s to-do list was a novel: manage payroll, placate a difficult supplier, design the new marketing campaign, and fix the leak in the staffroom sink. Her phone buzzed incessantly. A friend invited her for a weekend away, and Chloe had to laugh bitterly. “I’d love to,” she said, “but I just have too much on my plate. I haven’t had a proper day off in six months.” She looked around her struggling café, wondering if she would ever get ahead of the chaos.
4. David: The Caregiver
David was trying to balance his full-time job with caring for his ailing father. The hospital appointments, insurance calls, and constant worry were a relentless tide. He hadn’t slept through the night in weeks. One morning, his manager made a minor critique of his report, and David felt a hot surge of tears. He didn’t cry, but his voice trembled as he said, “I’m trying my best.” In that moment, he felt completely drained, out of options, and at the end of his rope.
5. Anya: The Medical Resident
Anya’s life was a blur of 24-hour shifts, snatched meals, and textbooks. She would finish a gruelling shift at the hospital only to go home and study for her upcoming exams, surviving on caffeine and determination. Her friends warned her about her pace, but she was determined to succeed. It was no surprise when she finally collapsed with a severe flu. The doctor told her it was pure exhaustion. She had been burning the candle at both ends for so long that her body had simply given out.
6. Mr. Henderson: The CEO
The board wanted answers, the shareholders were getting nervous, and the quarterly reports were disastrous. Mr. Henderson maintained a calm façade, but the entire executive floor could feel the tension. Terse emails, closed-door meetings, and hushed conversations were the norm. The atmosphere in the company was like a pressure cooker. Everyone knew that the disappointing sales figures were the source of the heat, and they were all waiting for the lid to blow.
