Stress gets a bad rep but the truth is that we all
need a little of it in our lives. It’s what keeps us
active, alert and moving forward. However, too
much stress – at work, home or during a
particularly tense cup final – leads to the fight-or-
flight hormones adrenaline and cortisol wreaking
havoc on our immune and digestive systems. Your
body rushes to focus on dealing with the imminent
danger it’s expecting and, frankly speaking, it
doesn’t deal with it very well. Anxiety, depression,
heart disease, weight gain, concentration, reduced
libido, breathlessness, racing heart, numbness,
tingling and poor memory are all ways our body
reacts to long-term stress and anxiety. You don’t
want that, so here are 10 top tips for managing and
overcoming stress and anxiety.

[b] 1. Do something different
Begin your day differently. Take time to think about
something positive before you get out of bed,
rather than scramble from the moment the alarm
goes off. Set your alarm 10 minutes earlier and use
that time to focus on things that are going well,
your goals, your future plans – everything from big
career moves to the post-work burger you’ve
scheduled with a friend.
2. Have Some Alone Time
It probably sounds a little self-indulgent in these
hyper-connected times but time spent in solitude is
time very well spent, and not just when we feel
overwhelmed. It’s a good habit to create in order to
prevent stress. Set aside some time alone—it could
be out running, it could be taking a walk in the park
or through an art gallery, it could be sitting with a
coffee and a notepad. Breathing space and time to
think are natural enemies of stress.
3. Exercise ...often
Every study, book or expert you consult on
managing stress will cite daily exercise as one of
the most beneficial measures of all. It needn’t be a
full-on gym session or a game of squash so
punishing you think you’ll black out. A swim, a run
or even a walk outdoors can suffice. Think about
yoga too: it’s perfect to help quieten the mind.
Exercise releases endorphins into the body which
allow us to feel good and in turn helps reduce our
stress levels.
4. Cut out stimulants and depressants
Caffeine, alcohol and nicotine... they've got to go.
Sorry chaps. Over the years we have been led to
believe that a glass of wine relaxes us and a
cigarette calms the nerves. Not so. They make us
even more open to stress and anxiety. If you can’t
cut them out completely then make a promise to
reduce your intake – especially when it’s in direct
response to something that is stressing you out.

5. Go to bed
When we’re stressed we often find our sleep
patterns disturbed. Sleep is a great healer so make
sure you do all you can to get a good night’s sleep.
Raid the cliché closet here because they all work:
have a hot bath before bed, turn off digital
distractions an hour before bed, keep mobiles and
iPads out of the bedroom. Read a book, have a
massage, drink camomile tea and rest easy.
6. Indulge your passion
Make time doing your thing – something that gives
you a buzz. This is completely subjective; it might
be heading out with your camera, or making or
listening to music, it might be creative writing or
train spotting or competitive morris dancing.
Schedule in some time every week for things that
you get lost in, those activities that you look up
from and a couple of hours have past – hours when
anxiety can’t touch you.
7. Line up some random acts of kindness
Take the focus off your own stress and do
something for someone else. Random acts of
kindness are a natural tonic for stress because
altruism is proven to make you feel good. And yes,
the recipient doesn’t do so badly either.
8. Switch off the news
The world carries on spinning whether you’re
tuning in or not. Record numbers of young
professionals are suffering burnout partly because
there’s no need to switch off these days. Apps,
rolling news and the constant tidal surge of tweets
and status updates can wear you down. Take a
digital sabbatical once a week, even if it’s for a
couple of hours on a Saturday evening or Sunday
morning. It feels good and helps to let go that weird
fear of missing out.
9. Get in touch
Our natural instinct when someone is overwrought
or upset is to touch them, to stroke them. It’s
naturally calming. The same goes for you. There is
no better excuse to book yourself a massage …and
let’s not forget sex and intimacy as a way to relieve
stress, too.
10. Silence the inner critic
Kindness towards yourself is important because
beating yourself up doesn’t reduce stress. We are
often our own worst critics, our judgemental voice
pushes us to work longer, strive harder. Sometimes
it needs to be slapped down. Think how you’d speak
to a stressed out friend, what words would you
offer them? Use those same words on yourself [/b]