What happens to your emotional resilience & mental health when stressed.

When dealing with chronic stress, there are a range of potential ways your emotional health and ability to cope are impacted.

  • Heightened emotional reactivity, which can show up as irritability, mood swings and/or emotional numbness.

  • Stress hormones for a prolonged period can lead to cognitive impairment such as memory loss, lack of attention or impaired decision making.

  • Sleep disturbances including the inability to fall asleep, stay asleep or poor quality sleep may occur. This can perpetuate the stress cycle and further erode mental health.

  • Potential increases in feelings of anxiousness or depression, as continuous exposure to stressors without relief keep your body in the ‘fight or flight’ mode and may lead to persistent feelings of worry, fear or anxiousness.

*Sources for insights cited on the impact of stress on emotional health here

Quick stress busters to improve emotional heath

  • Assorted paint supplies on a splattered canvas, including various colored paint plates, brushes, and bottles.

    Art

    You don’t need to be an artist to benefit from a creative outlet like painting or drawing. Layering in some time every week for creative expression though art is a great way to channel and reduce stress.

  • Vintage black and white photographs on a wooden table, featuring landmarks and buildings, with a branch, paper clip, and tag nearby.

    Photos

    Looking through old photos is a great way to practice gratitude and relive happy memories of family gatherings, trips, birthdays and everyday moments. Take 5 minutes to look back every morning for grounding.

  • White round side table with wooden legs, holding a small potted plant and a retro black alarm clock, beside a bed with floral bedding, set against a gray wooden wall with electrical outlets.

    Sleep routine

    Preparing for rest is just as important as sleep itself. Create a routine that works for you, even if just 5 minutes to allow your body and mind to downshift. Find what works for you, & try to stick to the same bedtime.

Research study spotlight

Relationship between weekend activities, recovery experience, and changes in work-related well-being: 2021

Highlights:

  • “Recovery refers to the process of replenishing resources that occurs when employees distance themselves from their work…”

  • Weekend activities use different ‘resources’ and enable depleted resources time to recover.

  • Four main areas were identified as contributing most to burnout recovery

    • Detachment from work to give time for your brain to reset

    • Relaxing - taking actions that work for you, including social connection

    • Spending time on things you are great at, outside of work

    • Regaining control, agency and identity outside of work

Full study here