Stress has a real physiological effect on your body. The right amount of stress can be motivational, energising and give you the confidence to preform at your best. However when you move over that threshold and the balance is no longer there stress can effect your ability to sleep, to think clearly, and get things done. Stress even effect’s your health. Research has shown that stress has a real impact on your immune system, effecting the rhythm of your heart, your metabolism, your blood pressure and your pain threshold leaving you more vulnerable to picking up infections.

When stress effects your body it switches on your sympathetic nervous system, reducing your desire to eat, keeping you alert which effects your ability to sleep, makes your emotions and reactions more responsive. If your a competing athlete you can see how more energy, more focus, quick responses can be very beneficial. Or if you have a deadline looming the same responses can keep you motivated and on task. But the sympathetic nervous system is designed to work in short boosts in harmony with the parasympathetic nervous system which works the digestive system and helps the body to feel rested, refreshed and energised.

However when the sympathetic system is over active it slows the digestive system, prevents you from sleeping restfully, effects your blood pressure, your ability to digest food, and you even use energy differently leading to cravings for sweets or other substances, often leaving you feeling run down and unwell.

7 Ideas to reduce stress in your life and boost your immune system

Make time to sit down and eat a health diet full of vegetables. Many adults and children don’t get the opportunity to eat, rest and digest at lunch time so getting up 20mins earlier to eat breakfast it’s really important. Eating protein like eggs in the morning will help give you the energy you need to keep you going through the day. Chewing your food thoroughly will help to breakdown your food and make it easier to absorb nutrients from it.

Drink lots of water through the day, to keep you hydrated and flush toxins from the body.

Exercise has a powerful effect on your stress levels, walking is kind to your joints, gets you outside in the fresh air and helps you to reduce stress. When you are already stressed high cardio work can actually stress your body more.

Have fun and do the things you love that make you smile, laugh and feel creative. Listening to your favourite music, dancing in the kitchen, gardening, painting the list is endless. Ask your self… what makes your heart sing?

Keep connected with friends and family. If you haven’t heard from them in a while pick up the phone for a chat or to arrange meeting up for coffee or to do something fun together.

Have a day a week when everyone in the family turns off their smartphones, the television and playstation. Take the opportunity as a family to do something active and fun together.

Your body senses the time of day by the light we are exposed to and likes to be in sync with natures circadian rhythms. To improve your sleep, dim the lights in the evening and turn of phones and the television at least an hour before you go to bed this helps your mind to unwind.