Join the Lifestyle Revolution

Do you take electronic devices into the bedroom with you? Do you check your phone before interacting with your loved ones in the morning? Do you make excuses for working too much? If you have answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may have normalised stress.

Everyone experiences high levels of stress and a distorted work/life balance from time to time — whether we are working on a big project or moving house, trying to ‘level up’ or learn something new. Each time we face a challenge, our brains are wired to assess it and determine whether we have the resources necessary to cope with it, or not. It is important to remember that not all stress is bad for the body or mind. Short-term stress can have very positive effects. When the body tolerates stress and uses it to overcome lethargy or to enhance performance, the stress is positive, healthy and challenging and is called ‘eustress’.

Stress becomes negative when it exceeds our ability to cope, fatigues body systems and causes behavioural or physical problems. This harmful stress is called ‘distress’. Distress produces overreaction, confusion, poor concentration, anxiety and subpar performance. Left unchecked, it can lead to mental and physical health issues including anxiety and depression, heart disease, insomnia, autoimmune disease, gut health deterioration and cancer. It is essential to see the red flags of stress and make changes if we are to avoid the health issues which flow from prolonged or repeated periods in this state.