How to deal with everyday stress

In a modern life where the pressures of life have become increasingly harsh and at a time when there is so much austerity in the country, is it any wonder that so many people are stressed and feeling overwhelmed right now?

The financial pressures of running a modern family are higher than before, and the ever-expanding housing market making it harder for young people to get onto the property ladder is making many young adults living at home with their parents the norm in their twenties.

Given the lack of funding for mental health services and annual cuts to our social security budget, this means those earning the basic wage are unable to access care and support outside of the increasing NHS waiting list. What does this look like for future generations?

What can we do to ensure we manage our stress and know what tools to turn to when we can't cope?

Why do we get stressed?

There are many times in every person's life when they have found themselves stressed and unable to cope. If you were to ask any of them what led them to this point, they could give you a variety of reasons why it happened. So why is it so difficult to recognize the structure and only recognize when you? Are you in a crisis?

My personal experience was that I ignored all the warning signs I knew about myself and believed that I would "get better soon" or that this "won't last forever."

What happens when I become too overwhelmed in all areas of my life is that I start to suffer from fatigue. I'm starting to have bad sleep routines; there may be a change in my diet (tendency to crave sugary products); I can start to become emotionally sensitive and intolerant towards those close to me - unfortunately these tend to be my work colleagues.

How do we combat stress?

Feeling stressed is the body's natural response to warn you that you are doing too much or not coping physically, mentally and emotionally. Listening to your body is one way to pick up on early signals that you need to slow down or take a break. My work as a speaking therapist has shown me that practicing mindfulness is a great tool for tuning into what our bodies are trying to tell us. Simple daily exercises like body scans, which can be easily taught and practiced anywhere, at any time, can allow us to connect with what might be happening for us and put us on the path back to self-care and maintaining a balanced life.

Investing too much time in the body's fight flight response will have a detrimental effect on your overall well-being. We know from research and studies that too much adrenaline and cortisol – the body's natural stress response hormones – can have short- and long-term health consequences.

Turning to a yoga or mediation practice can help neutralize these stress hormones. Yoga is now becoming more accessible, even in most gyms. Headspace is one of my favorite apps that I recommend to many of my clients because it is so simple and easy to use for those who are new to meditation or breathing exercises.

A healthy work-life balance is important to maintain a good level of self-care and stop overwork, e.g. Make sure you take a lunch break. It's surprising how many working people don't take a lunch break these days. When I say lunch break, I don't mean eating lunch at my desk, reading emails, or doing quick things between jobs. I mean get up and leave the office or workspace and take time out of that environment.

It is also important to have enough vacation and take all of your annual vacation. Again, I'm shocked when I hear people say they didn't use all of their vacation entitlements last year, but wonder why they're feeling so stressed or struggling to cope right now.

Ask for help

And then it is important to be able to ask for help. I know this sounds obvious, but for many people it's not the easiest thing to do. Turning to someone close to you or someone at work to say that you are overwhelmed or not coping well at the moment shows a sign of confidence rather than weakness.

Work on having a good support network of friends and family in your area so you can share with them what's bothering you at the moment, or if this isn't always available to you, find a local support group where you can be part of a community of people who all share the same common problem you may be having.

If your problem is deeper rooted and you feel that specialized help is needed, a speaking therapist or life coach is someone who can guide you through the issues you may be facing. These are widely available online or through your local GP, or your work may be part of an employee assistance program called an EAP.

We all know how important some form of exercise is to reduce stress and anxiety. Take time to be outside with nature. Find a green place and pay attention to the trees and plants.

Take a day at home to read, relax, listen to music or treat yourself to that box set you've always wanted to see.

Being under pressure is a natural part of life, but being overwhelmed by stress over a long period of time can lead to mental illness if left untreated. Although there are things in your life that you cannot control, the list above shows practical things you can do.

What I've become more aware of lately is identifying the triggers that can lead me to stress. This way I can anticipate my problems and look for ways to solve them.

Let me share some tips I learned:

· · I know that for me, morning is my better time of day when I am more productive and get things done.

· · I have more energy in the morning to be creative and have better concentration skills.

· · I've learned to prioritize my job list well and know what's important and what's not an emergency.

· · I can now say no when I've had too much on me and not feel guilty.