I think we can all say we’ve experienced stress at some point in our life.  

Stress is a natural response to challenges or threats in life. Small amounts may be beneficial by keeping us alert and motivated, however continued stress without relief can have a negative impact on our overall well-being.  

When stressed we may feel anxious, irritable, find it difficult to concentrate, lose our appetite or have difficulties sleeping. Stressful situations can also exacerbate mental health conditions, including Depression and Anxiety. Everyone reacts to stress differently, and coping styles and symptoms can vary.  

It is natural to feel stressed in challenging situations such as job interviews, conflict among relationships, or adjusting to big life changes such as moving house or retiring. However, when stress becomes chronic, it can negatively affect many aspects of our health, including our immune, digestive and cardiovascular systems, which is why stress management is so important.  

The good news is there are a variety of strategies we can use to better handle life’s challenges and the stress that often accompanies them.  

Stress management guide: 

• Start by identifying the cause of your stress: this can give us a better understanding of why we’re feeling stressed and help with our management approach. 

• Move your body regularly: Physical activity is one of the best stress-relief activities. And no, I’m not just being bias as an Exercise Physiologist! It can help with improving mood, sleep, energy levels, focus and overall wellbeing. This doesn’t need to look like an intense gym class, it could be as simple as walking to the park with your grandkids a few afternoons a week.  

• Get a restful sleep: Sleep is very important and is often one of the first things to be impacted when we’re stressed. If you’re having trouble sleeping, try following a consistent night routine, avoiding screens or doing a 10-minute meditation before bed. 

• Maintain a well-balanced diet: Diet can have a significant impact on our mental health. It’s important we prioritize eating 3 meals a day that incorporate all the main food groups and aim for 6-8 glasses of water daily. 

• Be aware of smoking and alcohol intake: Whilst it may feel like alcohol and nicotine provide momentary relief, alcohol is a depressant and nicotine creates cravings, both contributing to poorer mental and physical health outcomes. 

• Utilize relationships: Sometimes stress can cause us to feel overwhelmed by our worries, and if this is the case, it may be beneficial to talk to a trusted family member or friend to remind us of the support we have and help us feel less alone in what we’re experiencing. 

• Be mindful: Mindfulness is something that can be practiced anywhere, at any time. It involves focusing on the present moment using techniques like meditation, breathing and yoga. These activities help bring us out of our head and be more present in our bodies, in a way giving us a break from those stressful thoughts. It could be as easy as implementing a 5-minute meditation first thing in the morning.  

It’s no secret that life comes with its challenges and stress at different points is inevitable. The key, however, is being able to manage it, and hopefully some of these strategies can help.