It’s been a difficult week for many New Zealanders as our country suffered a severe earthquake. With damaged homes and roads, and the stormy weather that has followed, it’s not surprising that stress and anxiety levels are high.  

While short bursts of acute stress can be good for you, priming your body to react quickly in adverse situations, stress can take a major toll on your health when your body frequently goes into stress mode. 

No matter the burdens you are carrying, remember that it's always an option to take a deep breath and stop to smell the flowers. Your mind steers your stress gauge. A positive mental shift is as simple as choosing where you place your attention. There are also ways to control your body’s stress response to prevent damage to health and wellbeing.

Tips to de-stress

To help keep stress levels at bay:

Get enough “me time” – take regular breaks to unwind, and take time out from from things that stress you out

Get enough sleep – go to bed early and take time to wind down before sleeping

Let off steam by catching up with a friend or writing in a journal

Set limits, learn to say no, and prioritise commitments

Do introspective tasks like gardening, walking, or yoga, to allow time to think

Exercise to improve your mood and general wellbeing

Try not to take life too seriously. Crack a joke to boost heart rates, breath rates and oxygen consumption 

Supplement where needed. Nature is very powerful and clever, with the ability to boost your wellbeing and reduce stress with a range of natural remedies. Talk to our caring team in stores for natural supplements to help with stress relief. 

HealthZone Stress Zone	Harker Herbals Stress Tonic	Blackmores Executive B Stress Formula