In the beginning, stress was a great invention concocted by evolution to keep us alive. Stress can stop us from making silly decisions that lead to death, get us to run faster away from a predator, or keep us alive after a traumatic injury.

Stress was NOT designed to last a 40 year-long career, it was NOT designed for moving house, it was NOT designed for divorce, grief, redundancy, terminal illness, or becoming estranged from your family. Stress was designed to last 20 minutes to keep you alive; it was certainly NOT designed to last your lifetime.

Stress is a chemical reaction in our bodies, which changes how lots of different processes work. Stress makes inflammatory responses more intense, aggravates chronic health conditions and puts the breaks on our body’s normal digestive and healing processes.

Our bodies don’t know the difference between modern stresses and situations that could actually kill you. Having a strategy to manage and reduce stress is basically the only way to navigate your body through these things in a healthy way. These are my top tips to help your body and mind to manage stress…

Just start small. Take a deep breath…

Take a deep breath and mitigate the release of stress hormones and refocus your mind. Acute stress can manifest as panic attacks, causing hyperventilation. Gaining control over your breathing can help to balance the oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood and keep you feeling calm. There are some great guided breathing apps available to help you practice this skill.

Run Boy Run!

So, your brain thinks you need to run away from a sabretooth tiger? The simple solution is to take it for a run! (Or any kind of exercise really!)

Exercise releases feel-good endorphins in the brain, helping to moderate feelings of anxiety and stress. People who exercise describe the mind-clearing power of running or cycling, the high you feel after lifting weights in the gym, or the feeling of accomplishment after each gain in fitness. They have more confidence, and are less likely to feel anxious.

Find Your Zen

I’m a big fan of a stay-cation. It’s a tiny holiday where you don’t have to go anywhere at all! Just declare a Saturday afternoon a holiday and do something you might not normally do; I like to go swimming, go for a coffee and read a book, or go for a walk in the park. Just like a mindfulness exercise; turn your phone off, and be present in the moment.

I think these things are best done alone, so that you can concentrate on yourself – how do you feel, Mentally and physically? Make a little resolution (drink more water, eat more veggies, walk more…) and bring it as a souvenir back from your tiny holiday. It sounds so silly, but trust me, it works!