Managing stress
Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges in our lives, and it is something that all of us experience regularly.
When we encounter stress, our body produces stress hormones that trigger a fight or flight response to help us respond quickly to dangerous situations.
Stress is not necessarily a bad thing. When stressed the body releases adrenaline and cortisol which helps give us a boost of energy and motivation to act quickly.
A little bit of stress can be good. Stress can help us perform daily activities such as meeting deadlines and staying focused on our work.
However, too much stress can have negative effects on our wellbeing, such as:
- increased tiredness and difficulties sleeping
- a loss of appetite or increased hunger (usually unhealthy foods)
- cause or exacerbate mental health problems such as anxiety and depression
- feeling overwhelmed, angry, irritable, tense, burnt out
Ways to manage your stress
Start by identifying your stress triggers such as financial worries, meeting deadlines, balancing work and social life. By recognising your stress triggers, you will be better prepared to manage life situations.
You can complete the NHS wellbeing quiz to help deal with stress and improve your wellbeing.
Clear your mind
Writing down your stressors can help you visualise them and manage anxiety:
‘To do’ lists can help if you feel overwhelmed with work or tasks you need to complete
‘Brain dumping’ is a technique where you spend 5-10 minutes writing down everything in your mind. When ‘brain dumping’, be cautious to not only focus on negative feelings as this can cause more stress
Journaling and practising gratitude can help maintain a positive mentally. Some journal prompts include: ‘What do I want to focus on today?’, ‘What am I grateful for today?’, ‘How do I typically respond to stress?’
Resources for financial stress management
Mental Health and Money Advice
- Budget planning and debt health check
- guidance on welfare benefits
- tips and advice for managing money
- Free budgeting spreadsheet
- Sign up for weekly emails to receive information on things like pensions, savings accounts, mortgages and more
