We need to view stress management as seriously as we do medical disease

Best known for her pioneering research linking stress to the shortening of telomeres and immune cell ageing, Epel has just written a book – The Stress Prescription – to help people to take control of their stress in just seven days.

“I use the word prescription because we need to view stress management as seriously as we do medical disease,” Epel tells HCM. “The vast majority of us are living with too much daily stress and it’s ruining our life.

“We’re living in tough times and need more robust tools and stress management practices for daily life. Stress can feel like a filter that masks the beauty in front of us. But we don’t have to live that way.”

After decades of studying the subject, Epel felt compelled to share her insights on how to reshape our relationship with stress into one that’s healthy and humorous. She’s broken them down into seven steps – “potent easy strategies proven to be effective” – that each require just a few minutes a day:

• Embrace uncertainty

• Put down the weight of what we can’t control

• Use our stress response to help overcome challenges

• Train our cells to “metabolise stress” better

• Immerse ourselves in nature to recalibrate our nervous system

• Practice deep restoration

• Intersperse our busy schedules with moments of joy

“With some relatively simple new habits, we can train the mind and body to experience the inevitable stresses of life in a positive way that’s actually healthy for the body,” she says.

Epel sees the book being particularly useful to both operators and health and wellness lovers. She says: “Using these techniques, people are better equipped to reap the positive effects of time spent at retreats and spas and on their general wellbeing and benefit from these experiences for longer.

“In fact, studies have shown that people who are more experienced in meditation show more immediate physiological benefits from health interventions such as retreats."