Stress Awareness Month: Health Doctor

How Stress Affects Your Health – And What You Can Do About It

We often think of stress as something we “just have to live with” – but chronic stress, especially in office settings, has a powerful effect on both mind and body. In confined spaces where you’re sharing energy with others, those effects can build quickly, leaving you drained before the day is even over.

The body’s stress response was designed for short bursts of danger – not for sitting at a desk under constant pressure. And while our bodies are incredibly adaptable, prolonged physical and mental stress can throw things out of balance.

That’s why it’s so important to understand how to reduce harmful stress and support the kind of stress your body can positively adapt to. In my work, I help people do both – minimising tension and strain, while building resilience and recovery.

Here are three small things you can start doing today to reduce stress at your desk:

1. Breathe with intention. Try the 4-4-6 pattern: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 6. It’s a quick and powerful way to reset your nervous system.
2. Check your posture. Your ears should be in line with your shoulders, feet flat on the floor, and your screen at eye level. Good posture prevents strain on your spine and nervous system.
3. Move regularly. Stand up every 30 minutes – even just for 10 seconds. Stretch, take the stairs, or roll your shoulders back. Movement breaks tension and re-energises your body.

That’s also where Health Doctor can help. As a holistic health and wellness chiropractor, I focus on restoring alignment and calming the nervous system to help your body heal and function as it’s designed to. If you’re feeling the effects of stress – tight shoulders, headaches, poor sleep, or fatigue – it might be time to take action.

For the month of April, I’m offering 50% off initial consultations for WBIC members – reduced from £55 to just £27. This includes a full postural assessment, health history review, recommendations and your first hands-on session.

You can book online using the discount code WBICHEALTH at checkout, or pick up one of my business cards at reception if you’d like to chat later.

I’ll also be offering free posture checks for everyone who attends my upcoming health talk on 1st May.

Remember: you’re meant to thrive, not just survive.