3 things you might not know about stress

What is stress and how does our body respond to it?⁠⁠
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Stress is defined as a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. Stresses can be both external and internal.⁠⁠
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Within our body, we have our central nervous system, controlling most functions of the body and mind, made up of our spinal cord and our brain, which are interconnected. ⁠⁠
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The sympathetic part of our nervous system is the part of us that helps us respond to stress whenever it comes around; increasing heart rate, increasing blood pressure and increasing blood sugar to help you to perform. Over time, repeated activation of the stress response takes a toll on the body.⁠⁠
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However, short amounts and short bursts of stressful events in our lives, as long as they don't exceed our coping resources, are not a bad thing.⁠⁠
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As long as we can come back into what we call homeostasis or balance, because our bodies, and as human beings, we are always looking to bring ourselves back into balance.⁠⁠
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Time for a stress check-in. How stressed are you in your life right now?⁠⁠

⁠⁠Rather than ploughing through and filling our summer social calendar, I invite you to take moments of pause whenever possible. Check-in. Take a breath. Book in some time for yourself. It's very much worth it.