Winter is coming, summer holidays already feel like a distant memory, and life has suddenly shifted into fifth gear again.
Kabul 24: That abrupt return to the daily grind leaves most of us exhausted and overwhelmed.A little stress is actually useful—it keeps us sharp and focused. But when it spirals out of control, it quietly chips away at our health, mood, and relationships.
Cortisol, the famous “stress hormone,” isn’t the villain we make it out to be. It’s the same hormone that wakes us up in the morning, keeps us alert, and helps us rise to challenges.
The goal isn’t to eliminate it—it’s to keep it in balance.Here are five straightforward, evidence-based ways to do exactly that.
1. Stop stressing about being stressedThe cruel irony? Worrying about how bad stress is for you actually makes it worse.
The more we tell ourselves, “Oh no, I’m stressed and I know it’s destroying me,” the worse it gets.Stress is a normal, unavoidable part of life—especially during big life events like grief, caregiving, parenting, or job uncertainty.Instead of fighting the feeling or panicking about it, accept it. Remind yourself: “This is temporary. I’ve got this.”
2. Move your body (no gym membership required)Exercise does to your body exactly what stress does: it raises your heart rate, spikes blood pressure, speeds up breathing, and releases adrenaline and cortisol.
The difference? When you choose to move, your body learns to handle those spikes better. You’re essentially training yourself to stay calm when real life throws curveballs.You don’t need an intense workout.
A brisk 20-minute walk, a slow jog, dancing around the living room—anything that gets you slightly out of breath counts. Just move.
3. Prioritize sleep (but don’t beat yourself up over a bad nights)Try to go to bed a bit earlier and wake up around the same time every day so your body finds its rhythm again.
If you toss and turn one night, relax—your body can function perfectly fine on less sleep for a day or two and will recalibrate quickly. Consistency matters more than perfection.
4. Take real care of yourself (not just Instagram-style self-care)Eat proper food, drink water, carve out a few minutes of intentional alone time every day.
Managing stress isn’t only about removing bad things—it’s about actively adding good ones.One habit that changed everything for me: Sunday meal prep. It cuts evening chaos in half during the workweek.
Mindfulness doesn’t have to mean apps or silent meditation. Just take three minutes in the morning to ask: “What might stress me out today, and how will I handle it with more calm?” That’s enough.
5. Talk it out—loudBottling up worries is like putting a pressure cooker on high heat with the lid screwed on tight.
Tell a friend, your partner, your sibling, or even record a voice note to yourself and play it back.I can’t count the times saying “I’m really worried about money” or “I’m scared about my job” out loud has instantly taken half the weight off my shoulders—even when no one offered a solution.
Sometimes just hearing yourself say it is magic.The bottom lineStress isn’t the enemy; uncontrolled stress is.
With movement, sleep, real self-care, acceptance, and talking it out, you can stop it from running the show.If you’re feeling crushed right now, pick just one of these five things and try it today.
Next time stress shows up, you’ll be stronger, calmer, and ready. You’ve got this.
