Why you need to complete your stress cycle

By Business Health Institute

08 Jul 2021

pexels-energepiccom-313690.jpg

How many of us spend our days feeling like we are stuck on a hamster wheel, that goes round and round, with no exit sign?

Life during and emerging from the storm of Covid has left a big impact on working life. Are some of us still in a reactive/survival phase, trying to figure out what to do next, or are some of us able to make connections, explore options and feel resourceful?

Let’s apply the brake a moment and stop.  A marker of wellbeing is the adeptness to respond to and recover from the challenges of daily life.  We all have that capability, but sometimes we need to reset in order to do so.

What happened to my brain?

We all have a smoke detector in our brain called the Amygdala, sometimes known as the fear centre.   Its main job is to detect danger. The stronger a threat is seeming to be, the more reactive the smoke detector sounds.  The more it becomes activated, the bigger our stress response becomes. During this process, the higher parts of the brain, our logical thinking and ability to focus begin to shut down.  We are left with high arousal stress response, where we can become hypervigilant (feeling on guard) and not able to make decisive decisions.

How do you reset?

Let’s start by learning to calm our nervous system in simple ways, which will help to calm the fear centre.

Every day easy tools to help

Our breath is the one constant in our life, but do we stop to notice it?

Stop now and take a moment to notice how you are breathing, fast or slow, deep, or shallow? The deeper and slower we can breathe, the calmer we become.

Movement

Get up from our desk or chair, move about, stretch our arms and legs.  Shake our hands/arms and or legs.  Move your head from side to side.

Go for a walk/run/skip/jump – it’s doesn’t matter what you do, but it mattes that you move.

Chewing

Simple as that, chew something.  It will create saliva in the mouth, this gives a signal to the brain that all is okay.  When your mouth is dry, it sends a message to the brain that danger might be lurking, and the fear centre can become activated. 

Journal

At the end of the working day, write down all you have achieved.  Make a list of what’s important for the next day.  Draw a line under it and remember to tidy your desk.

Evening time, draw or write 3 things that have helped to make your day a positive one.  It might be a smile, something in nature, a cuddle from your pet, something funny… whatever it is make note of it… by the end of the week, notice how many positive experiences you have had.

Sleep Hygiene

Create your bedroom as a place of rest and relaxation.  Remove any work items from the room (if you’re having to work from there during the day).  Make sure the room temperature is not too hot or too cold.  Disconnect from digital devices at least an hour before sleep.  Have a regular bedtime routine before getting into bed. Try to get at least 6 to 8 hours rest a night.

Find your way to complete your daily stress cycle – Reset and Recharge.

Do you need more help with your wellbeing, click here for more information.

{mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}

Latest news

1

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes Royal Bowland Park street scene NEW.jpg.jpg

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes

29 Oct 2025

2

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth - Representatives from the University's Business School, local SMEs and the IOEE

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth

29 Oct 2025

3

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire BAE Typhoon ECRS Mk2 Radar

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire

28 Oct 2025

4

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold The Mill at Conder Green

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold

28 Oct 2025

5

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm PM+M promotions

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm

27 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event
Holiday Inn Hotel
Networking
28 Oct 2025 - 18 Nov 2025

November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event

Holiday Inn, Blackpool

16:46 - 16:45

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
13 Nov 2025 - 13 Nov 2025

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

The AI Lab: E-commerce
Ai Lab ecommerce (1).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Nov 2025 - 14 Nov 2025

The AI Lab: E-commerce

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin