Living with chronic stress has a cost to the body and, over time, produces negative systematic changes. The stress hormone corticosteroid can also suppress the effectiveness of the immune system. Sometimes stress can make you do all the wrong things too, like smoke, drink and stay on the couch, or avoid getting out about, exercising and socialising.

The types of stress we are talking about are not short term stressors (like someone shouted at you or you had a close call in your car) but long-term things like financial worries, troubled relationships, continual triggers of anxiety and feelings of loneliness.

But the good news is that the effects of stress are reversable! So what can you do to reduce stress? For starters eat well, exercise regularly, drink enough water and get enough sleep. They are the no-brainers (see blogs previous weeks) but here’s some other ideas you might not have considered – and none of them involve a bath with candles!

1. Think of something you are grateful for. Every day. Say thanks.
2. Accept that there are things in this world that you can’t control.
3. How long since you had a good belly laugh? Find what makes you laugh and LOL!
4. Have you tried yoga? Have a go at home with youtube or Netflix.
5. Play with your pet. Don’t have a pet? Borrow one.
6. Listen to great music. Whatever your genre, immerse yourself and block out the world.
7. Start a creative project! Think outside the square.
8. Write it down. Start journaling. You’ll be amazed what you wrote when you look back in 2 years.
9. Cook more good stuff. Get the recipes out, experiment, eat a rainbow, nourish!
10. Manage your time better. Consult one of the many time management tools online.
11. Say no to people who cause you stress. It’s liberating.
12. Declutter your life of stuff, apps, chats, commitments and people who cause you stress.
13. Mindfulness, deep breathing and meditation are all brilliant, proven stress-busters.
14. Stop procrastinating about the hard stuff. Do the hard stuff first, then the easy stuff.
15. Positive physical touch releases oxytocin and lowers cortisol. Chimps do it, they know.
16. DIGITAL DETOX. Turn it off. Put it down. Airplane mode. Whatever it takes.

Take the 7 day challenge. Print this list and put it on the fridge. Try one of these tips each day for 7 days. Come back in a week and I bet you it’s made some difference to how you think and feel.

Would you like to learn more???
Physie Girl and Physie Woman are books designed to help you make changes one week at a time, for 52 weeks. Unlock your potential, not just to become the healthiest you can be, but to become the happiest you can be!

Go to www.physieshop.com to get a copy today!

Photography: KGPHOTOS