Stress is a normal reaction to exciting events like falling in love, getting a new job or buying a new home. But stress is also a survival technique built into your body as way to protect. When certain triggers arise, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) signals the 'fight or flight response", which prompts you to take action and avoid danger. This could probably be because of a bear chasing you, but the body doesn't know the difference between that and work-related issues triggering anxiety. Your body’s stress response is perfectly healthy when there’s a real emergency (like a bear chase), but if your body is constantly getting stress signals for everyday issues (work-related anxiety), you’ll start to burn out over time. How can we manage this response? Well the opposite response that turns "fight or flight response" off is known as - the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps the body conserve energy and rest. The ability to go from "fight or flight" to "rest and digest" is so important and vital for our overall health and wellbeing. However, not everyone finds it easy to relax in today's fast paced lifestyles. When we don't manage stress every day worries can build up to chronic stress, disrupting the natural balance required for optimal health, speeding up the aging process, and increasing the body’s susceptibility to illness. Here are some techniques you can try to help manage your stress response:
Meditation & Exercise
Declutter your work and living spaces to create peaceful environments
Plan your daily and weekly schedule
Prioritise your tasks and focus on one thing at a time.
Delegate to others if you feel overwhelmed. Lighten the load when you can and don't be afraid to ask for support.
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