Our everyday habits, the way we take care of ourselves, the way we respond to different situations, our values, our preferences tell us something about our lifestyle. It is simply the way we live our life. The most important pillars of a good lifestyle are healthy coping mechanisms, good sleep, balanced diet, social connectivity, balance between rest and activity and a work-life balance. All the above factors influence and are influenced by the state of our mind and body.

The mind and body work together to keep us feeling happy and healthy. When our body is not well we may have negative thoughts, feel sad, bored, lonely, stressed, frustrated, angry, etc. Likewise feeling emotionally unwell may impact our self care, cause emotional eating, binge watching, isolation, decreased activity, etc which in turn can affect our physical health. Hence stress can lead to unhealthy behaviours which lead to various physical illnesses.

Hence a healthy lifestyle includes taking care of your body along with your emotional and psychological wellbeing.

The method and the level of effort required from you depends on the type and level of stress. Different situations will demand different types and levels of effort from you. Stress can be acute (travel plans), repetitive (stressful work environment) or chronic (loss of a dear one or divorce).

Some situations may be handled better if you take a step back and some may require you to be assertive and take charge.

Stress can manifest in our body and mind in various ways. Different people feel it differently. If stress is not managed well then it can affect our emotions, and thoughts which in turn influence our behaviour. Therefore, it is very important to understand what is causing the negative behaviour more than what we see on the outside. Hence, recognising the problem and accepting that there is a problem is from where work starts. Learn to manage stress and if things get too much then use professional help. Counselors and psychologists can help a person learn more efficient ways of managing stress, and help replace unhealthy coping mechanisms with healthy ones. Be mindful of what is happening in the body and in your mind because they together shape the quality of your life.