How to recognise your unique signs of stress

If you’ve been struggling with mental health challenges during these uncertain times, you’re not alone. Nearly three-quarters of respondents to a Thrive Global survey said they wished they knew more small, everyday steps to improve their mental well-being, and half said that when it came to managing stress, they didn’t know where to start.

Everyone has their own way of responding to stress. When we know ourselves – the sources of our stress, how we respond, and what actions help us recharge – we’re far better able to take steps that strengthen our mental health and make us more resilient.

Here are three Microsteps – small, science-backed actions – that you can start taking immediately to help better understand and manage your own stress. Which will you try?

Microstep #1: Identify one source of negative stress in your day.

Before you can solve a problem, you have to name it. Pinpoint just one experience or scenario in your daily life that routinely creates negative stress. Interactions with a certain person? A moment at home or at work that always seems to be rushed and unpleasant? Once you recognise a pattern, you can begin to take steps to prevent stress from becoming cumulative and unmanageable.

Microstep #2: Think of your brain as a battery.

This simple metaphor will change the way you think about managing stress. When negative stress builds up, it drains your battery. But when you check your battery charge and choose a recharge strategy, you can course-correct before it leads to a mental health crisis.

Microstep #3: Take five minutes to write down the feelings and behaviours you exhibit under negative stress.

For example, do you feel overwhelmed, anxious, irritable, sad, worried, self-deprecating, panicked, numb, or like you want to run away? No one knows your stress response better than you, and writing it down will help you detect patterns so you can get proactive about managing it.