THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH: COPING WITH YEAR-END STRESS | AFFINITY HEALTH
Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality health coverage, explores the importance of mental health and ways to cope with end-of-year stress.
How Stress Impacts Your Health
First, the good news: not all stress is bad. Short bursts of stress can improve your focus and motivate you. Studies even suggest short-term stress can increase immunity.
However, when stress lingers for too long, it can be problematic.
Chronic stress elevates cortisol levels, which keeps your body on continual alert. Over time, this can increase your risk of health issues, including anxiety, depression, digestive disorders, and heart-related illnesses such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
Here are some practical tips to help you handle end-of-year stress.
Share Your Thoughts and Feelings
Are you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or just plain exhausted? Chatting with a friend, family member, or professional can help you release tension and see the situation more clearly.
Organise and Plan Ahead
The end of the year often brings a frantic rush to wrap up last-minute projects and work assignments before the holidays hit. A lack of preparation is usually a significant stress trigger, especially around the end of the year. Making to-do lists is an easy way to stay on top of tasks. Prioritise what needs to be done based on deadlines or importance. Once a task has been completed, tick it off the list and move on to the next task.
Draw Up a Budget
Buying gifts, hosting parties, and booking holiday trips can quickly add up, leaving your wallet empty and your stress levels sky-high. Maintaining a budget and monitoring your everyday expenditures can help you manage your money and reduce stress.
Find Time for Yourself
Self-care is essential to managing stress better. Self-care looks different for everyone. Maybe for you, it’s starting the day with a few minutes of deep breathing exercises. Or perhaps it’s taking a quiet walk during your lunch break, reading a book, or rolling out a yoga mat.
Stay Connected with Loved Ones (But Set Boundaries)
Feeling isolated is typical this time of year, especially if you’re away from loved ones. A short phone call or video chat can improve your spirits and remind you that you are not alone.
That said, not every family gathering brings comfort. If certain relatives tend to stir up more stress than joy, saying no to an invite is okay or limiting your time with them is okay.
Accept That Life is Unpredictable
No matter how much we plan, life is unpredictable. The sooner we accept that things won’t always go as we had hoped, the less stressed we’ll be when they inevitably don’t.
Conclusion
As the year winds down, prioritising your mental health is as important—if not more important—than finishing work projects or checking off holiday to-dos. Planning, managing your budget, talking about your feelings, and relaxing can help reduce end-of-year stress. For more ways to promote mental well-being, click here.
About Affinity Health
Affinity Health is South Africa’s leading health coverage provider, offering you a range of options at affordable rates, including access to the widest national provider network. We understand the importance of having medical insurance that meets your needs, budget, and lifestyle. Our healthcare products are designed to protect you and your family when it matters the most. We strive to give our clients peace of mind and the highest standard of service. For more information, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.