Stress Test

If you are very stressed, the last thing you will want to do is take a stress test.
But if you know you are getting gradually more tense as the days go by, this test, offered by Channel 4, can get you thinking.

We often get used to the things that stress us, to the extent that we hardly notice them. That does not make them less stressful. Take noise for example. If you live in a city and commute, you may scarcely notice the physiological effects of the traffic, the honking of horns and screech of brakes, but it is having an effect.

Here is a very short stress test...

Do you like your work?

Do you enjoy living where you live?

Do you have enough contact with your family?

Do you have control over how you spend your time?

Do you have financial worries?

Do you have at least 5 close friends do you have?

Do you have a faith, religion or regular spiritual practice?

Are you in good health?

Do you see the funny side of life, quite easily?

Do you regularly spend time in nature?


If you answered No to more than 5 of these questions, you are quite stressed.
If you answered No to more than 7, you are very stressed.

It is important to take action in both cases. Your answers will give you some idea where to begin.
But don't worry, with a conscious decision to change, it is quite possible to make changes quickly. Small steps can have a big impact. You could probably think of one small, but important change that you could start from today. For example, getting away from your desk for just 30 minutes at lunch time, whether you eat, walk, read or chat....as long as it is a complete change of activity, will leave you feeling much less stressed.