A few days ago I was in Rose Bay for a coffee, and I overheard a conversation on the table next to me happening between two women with new-borns, and it went like this:

Friend 1: “Wouldn’t it be nice to have 5 minutes to yourself?”

Friend 2: “I’d love nothing more, but I just don’t have the time. I’m constantly running around to do this and that, and by the end of the day I’m so tired so even when I do have the chance for 5 minutes to myself, all I want to do is fall asleep”.

As a business owner, I get it.

Finding time to unwind can be ‘tough’, but one of the most important things I’ve had to figure out in order to feel good and still have energy at the end of the day, is how to manage stress.

A lot of people don’t realise that their lives are actually ruled by it!

But more than ever, stress levels are at an all time high and still climbing.

Even in the Physio clinic, I have patients telling me they lead a stressful job, to then go home and face even more stress on a weekly basis, and most of them don’t have a clue about how to manage it.

As strange as it sounds, we do need some level of stress to go about our day.

That extra boost that helps us meet deadlines and to reach our goals, it’s what stops us from hitting snooze and push through the 3pm “slump”.

It keeps us moving.

The problem is, there’s a line. A place where it’s no longer energising but all consuming – which is when stress becomes our enemy.

Let’s take a step back and look at the thing we’re not often told about…

(When you’re aware of it and it’s managed) stress leaves our bodies stronger and healthier than they were before we let stress take over.

You see, small (managed) doses of stress are good, but too much and it starts to become unhealthy.

If you let it take over it can even stall your weight loss goals, make all that exercise you’re doing ineffective…

And even bring on unwanted aches and pains.

So, how can you reel it in and let stress work on your terms, so you don’t feel it’s unwanted side-affects?

I decided to put together a short list of things that have helped me, which you could put into action as soon as you’ve finished this article… 😉

First tip: Talk about it and find a friendly ear who you know is happy to listen.

Talking with friends and family is a great stress reliever and helps you get it out in the open so that it’s not bottled up in your head and no longer weighing you down.

Second tip: Get moving!

I say it all the time, but exercise can improve your mood and make you feel a lot better.

It doesn’t have to be anything strenuous, or something you don’t look forward to either.

From yoga to a boot camp style class, both can go a long way to improving your stress levels.

It can help you to focus on what you’re doing and doesn’t let you worry about anything else while you’re in the zone.

You need to make some time for YOU, outside of work and socialising!

Whether this means turning off your phone, reading a book in the bath or taking a walk, take some time to focus on things outside of work and your never ending to-do list, and you’ll come back feeling refreshed.

I always make sure to have at least one entire day away from my phone and technology, so I can un-wind and enjoy some quality “me time”.

It always does the trick.

And if none of those ideas sound like your kind of “me time”, how about treating yourself to a massage?

Massages are a great way to relax and if you have one booked in your diary, it’s a commitment that you’re more likely to stick to.

Not to mention, who doesn’t like a nice, relaxing massage to soothe your stress away?!

These tips and techniques might take a few weeks/months to be incorporated into your lifestyle, or it may take time to find one that works for you, but it will improve your health, happiness and productivity.☺️