We experience stress in many areas of life: family, finances, and work, just to name a few. When we manage stress well, it can motivate us and lead to productivity. When it becomes too much, it can overwhelm us and impact the quality of our lives.

Sources of stress:

• Personal life: The day-to-day demands of a family can be overwhelming (taking care of children or elderly parents, difficult relationships, paying bills, etc.).
• Work life: Deadlines and commitments, the pressure to perform, increased workload (to name a few) can lead to burnout.
• Environmental factors: World events, natural disasters, congested freeways. The on-going COVID pandemic is another example. These are issues we have little control over and can leave us feeling worried and stressed.
• Life events: These can be positive events, but are still stressful: marriage, the birth of a child, a new job, or an elderly parent moving in. There are also unexpected events: illness, family conflicts, financial difficulties, and the death of a loved one.

Impact of stress on the body – Stress can take a toll on your health and well-being. It can contribute to physical problems, such as headaches, stomachaches, and sleep problems. Chronic stress can lead to anxiety, insomnia, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, and health conditions, such as obesity and heart disease.

Tips for managing stress

• Become more active. Even light exercise or activities release “feel good” chemicals called endorphins.
• Eat a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep (7 – 9 hours is recommended).
• Practice deep breathing, meditation, or other relaxation activity.
• Have a good laugh. It releases endorphins, relaxes your muscles, and improves your mood.
• Prioritize your to-do list and set realistic goals.
• Improve your time management and organizational skills to decrease stress.
• Get support and talk to someone about how you are feeling. It will help!

This is a preview of our Pinnacle Health Management Wellness Program toolkit. Employers can obtain our Wellness Program as an add-on, which includes quarterly wellness challenges, wellness toolkits and other educational resources, newsletters on popular health topics, and customized reports at the end of all wellness challenges. If you’d like more information, contact us at 866.930.7264 or at quotes@pinnaclehealthmanagement.com.