The first signal for me if I’m starting to feel a bit stressed is waking very early (like the middle of the night ☹) with my mind racing.  I work to keep my stress in balance and I don’t mind being very busy at work and at home but stress or no, at times like these I go back to the things I know work for me and ensure I am spending some time outside, getting my workout done and if I have got out of the habit to go back to the Calm App and get back to some meditation.

Food is also something which can stress the body as if you are eating badly this will add to stress on the body. Food is everything – it Heals, Fuels, helps you sleep, helps brain health, keeps even energy levels, helps concentration levels as well as giving us loads of pleasure.

Keep the good food on track and help your body and mind by eating as much fresh fruit and green leafy vegetables as well as decent meals and load up on the water to help keep yourself hydrated. Bringing good snacks to ensure your energy levels don’t plummet during this busy period will also help keep your blood sugar on an even keel. If it is extra busy adaptogens are also good to work into your diet as they are believed to help the body cope with extra pressures and in busy times to keep you healthy and well.

Try any of these to up your bodies defences:-

Mushrooms especially cordyceps or try the mushroom coffee drink if you don’t like them;

Turmeric – load into veg and curries or make a turmeric honey drink in the evening;

Raspberry or Nettle Teas;

Ginseng - I throw drops of Siberian Ginseng into my vitamin C in the morning;

A few final thoughts is that exercise burns stress but don’t overdo it (include use of a heart rate monitor so you can track how hard you're working to ensure you have some variability in your training and it’s not always about pushing it to the max), spend time with friends and family who make you happy and have a watershed time after which you ditch the mobile phone and get some proper down time.