How much control you have over a certain situation determines your ability to combat and survive stress. There was an interesting study that demanded tasks of concentration between two groups of workers. Both groups were exposed to very distracting background noises consisting of horns honking, machinery, and people talking loudly in unknown languages. One group had a button placed on a desk while the other group did not. The button was placed so that the group who was given that button could shut off the background noises at any time they wanted to.

Not surprisingly, the productivity of the group with the control button was consistent and extremely higher than the group without the control button.
What is more interesting about this experiment is that no one actually pushed the button. Just in the knowing that it was there was enough.

What the experiment had taught us was that it is very important to have some “control buttons” in our lives. The “control buttons” are a crucial factor in order to help us deal with the stresses around us. If we have very little sense of control over any certain situation, then we are truly vulnerable to stress. One good way to combat stress is by following the Hanson method that stated to “Learn to ignore what you can’t control, and learn to control what you can.”


     Listing # 0330