Tips to get ahead of stress

Your body is a temple. But does your temple sometimes feel like a hotbed of panic and worry….

You are not alone! Everyone feels stressed at one time or another.

Not all stress is bad. But ongoing stress can lead to health problems.

Stress, in everyday terms, is a feeling that people have when they are overloaded and struggling to cope with demands.

Preventing and managing stress can lower your risk for serious conditions like heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure, and depression.

The first step is to identify what is making you stressed. What are your triggers? And then, what are the things that can calm you down/help to alleviate your panic when you are feeling stressed.

Some ideas to prevent or reduce stress are to plan ahead, prioritise and to prepare. Know what you’re up against, what obstacles you may face and ideas for how you may tackle them. Write a list and prioritise tasks by level of importance. Everyone loves ticking things off a list!

However, some stress is hard to avoid. Everyone has their way own of managing their stress and winding down. Below are some simple suggestions that may help:

• Exercise – one of the most effective and important methods
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Reduce your caffeine and alcohol intake
• Laugh – it’s the best medicine
• Talking to friends and family
• Have a nice snuggly cuddle
• Listening to music

If you are having trouble coping

Sometimes stress can become too much to handle. If you feel like you need help right now, you can call Healthline on 0800 611 116 or Lifeline on 0800 LIFELINE (0800 543 354), or alternatively call us now and make an appointment to see your GP.