Life is stressful — there’s no way around that.
Some of us have more of it than others, and a lot of people are terrible at managing it at every level. While there are positives of stress — it can be motivating and make you more resilient in life — there are far more negatives. When not dealt with properly (or at all), stress ends up stealing things from you that you’ll realise how much you miss when they’re gone.
1. Your sleep
Stress can make it impossible to switch off at night, keeping your mind racing long after you’ve climbed into bed. Whether it’s replaying the day’s worries or panicking about tomorrow, stress loves to sabotage rest. To take it back, establish a bedtime routine that signals to your brain it’s time to unwind. Limit screen time, practise deep breathing, or try journaling before bed to get those racing thoughts out of your head and onto paper.
2. Your ability to focus
When stress takes over, even the simplest tasks can feel overwhelming. You sit down to work but can’t seem to concentrate, and suddenly, everything takes twice as long as it should. To regain your focus, break tasks into smaller steps and tackle them one at a time. Taking short, intentional breaks to stretch or even step outside for a few minutes can also help reset your brain and improve concentration.
3. Your patience
Ever noticed how stress makes you snappier? When you’re overwhelmed, little things that wouldn’t usually bother you suddenly feel like major irritations, leaving you frustrated with those around you. To reclaim your patience, practise mindfulness and remind yourself to pause before reacting. Taking a few deep breaths before responding to a situation can help shift your mindset and prevent unnecessary tension.
4. Your motivation
Stress can leave you feeling drained and unmotivated, making even small tasks feel impossible. The more overwhelmed you feel, the harder it is to start anything, trapping you in a cycle of procrastination. To break the cycle, focus on just one small action to get started. Sometimes, just getting started, no matter how small the step you take, can create momentum and pull you out of that rut. It’s easier said than done, but if you can muster enough energy to do it, it’ll pay off.
5. Your enjoyment of the present moment
Stress keeps you stuck in your head, worrying about things that have already happened or what’s coming next. Instead of enjoying the moment, you’re too distracted by everything else on your mind. As a result, you end up missing out on the life you’re living right now, which you’ll come to regret in the long run. To bring yourself back to the present, practise grounding techniques like deep breathing, focusing on your senses, or simply reminding yourself to slow down and take in what’s around you.
6. Your physical health
Stress doesn’t just affect your mind — it takes a serious toll on your body, too. Headaches, muscle tension, digestive issues, and even weakened immunity can all be linked to chronic stress. To take back control, prioritise activities that help your body relax, like exercise, stretching, or getting outside for fresh air. Even small lifestyle changes, like staying hydrated and eating nourishing foods, can make a difference.
7. Your ability to make decisions
When you’re overwhelmed, even simple choices can feel paralysing. Stress makes it harder to think clearly, leaving you second-guessing everything or avoiding decisions altogether. As a result, you end up treading water, never really getting ahead in life. To get past decision fatigue, simplify where you can, whether that’s planning meals in advance, setting routines, or narrowing choices down to just a couple of options. The less you overthink, the easier decision-making becomes.
8. Your sense of control
Stress can make you feel like life is happening to you rather than something you have control over. The more overwhelmed you feel, the more powerless everything seems. To reclaim control, focus on what you can change rather than what you can’t. Even small wins like setting boundaries, making a to-do list, or tackling one thing at a time can help change your mindset. It takes a bit of practice and persistence, but it does work in the end.
9. Your relationships
When stress is running the show, it’s easy to withdraw from other people or become irritable, creating distance in your relationships. Over time, stress can destroy connections and make you feel isolated. To repair and protect your relationships, make time for the people who bring you joy. Even a short catch-up with a friend or a phone call to someone who understands can help relieve stress and strengthen bonds.
10. Your creativity
Stress doesn’t just zap your energy — it also kills creativity. Sure, there’s the cliche about the best artists being depressed and miserable, but that’s no way to live (and it’s largely untrue, anyway). When your mind is overloaded with worries, there’s little room left for new ideas or inspiration. To reignite creativity, give yourself permission to step away and take breaks. Whether it’s going for a walk, listening to music, or engaging in an activity that relaxes you, creativity often returns when you’re not forcing it.
11. Your ability to enjoy downtime
When you’re stressed, even relaxation feels stressful. Instead of unwinding, you spend your free time worrying about what you “should” be doing, making it impossible to truly recharge. To fully enjoy rest, remind yourself that downtime isn’t wasted time — it’s necessary for your mental and physical health, end of story. Schedule relaxation just like any other task and allow yourself to be fully present in it.
12. Your self-confidence
Stress can make you feel like you’re constantly falling behind or not doing enough. The more pressure you put on yourself, the harder it becomes to trust in your abilities. The more you doubt yourself, the more you decide you’re better off not trying at all in case you fail. To rebuild your confidence, celebrate the little achievements in your life, and remind yourself of your past successes. Shifting your focus to what you’ve achieved rather than what’s left to do can help restore belief in yourself.
13. Your sense of fun
Stress has a way of making life feel serious all the time. When your mind is always occupied with responsibilities and worries, fun and laughter take a back seat in life. Given how awful things are in the world sometimes, we need a little levity to keep us sane, so when you don’t have that, you feel even worse. To bring fun back, make space for things that bring you joy, no matter how small. Whether it’s watching a hilarious movie, dancing around your kitchen, or engaging in a hobby, little moments of fun can break the stress cycle.
14. Your overall happiness
At its worst, stress can overshadow everything, making life feel like one big to-do list instead of something to be enjoyed. The weight of constant worry can steal the simple joys of everyday life. If you want to reclaim your happiness, focus on what truly matters and let go of things that aren’t serving you. Set boundaries, prioritise self-care, and remind yourself that happiness isn’t found in doing more — it’s in appreciating what’s already here.
