When a nutritionist asked me to write for her company newsletter about managing stress, I replied that her request was stressing me out. I was only half joking. The truth is, I—like many other people—sometimes don’t handle stress well. Writing about this reminds me I should take my own wellness seriously.

Stress can be invigorating, such as when you are competing in a sport or planning a big vacation. But too much of it can negatively affect your health, manifesting in subtle ways. Signs include:

• headaches, tense muscles
• feeling irritable, sad or guilty
• trouble sleeping
• difficulty concentrating (brain fog)
• restlessness
• change in weight or appetite
• listlessness, loss of energy
• procrastination, avoidance
• reduced interest in things you used to enjoy

If you ignore your stress signals for too long, you may experience burnout. Health Canada says stress can affect the immune system and is considered a risk factor in heart disease, mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, and some bowel diseases. Stress also makes it harder for diabetics to control their blood sugar. So what can you do to reduce the effects of stress?

Check this blog for tips on everything from yoga and reframing negative thoughts to dealing with procrastination. In the meantime, you can Google “Health Canada managing stress” for their suggestions. Namaste.