Reframing your relationship with stress
Our wellbeing partner Champion Health recently hosted a webinar focused on rethinking stress and learning how to manage it effectively. Led by performance coach Josh Fletcher and Champion Health's Wellbeing Lead Vicki, the session explored how stress affects the body and mind, common challenges people face, and practical strategies to build resilience. This blog summarises the key points from the session.
What is stress and why does it matter?
Stress is a natural response to pressure, whether from work, relationships, financial worries, or personal challenges. When managed well, stress can be a positive force that helps us stay focused, motivated, and productive. However, long-term, unaddressed stress can impact mental and physical health, leading to burnout, sleep problems, anxiety, and reduced performance.
The key takeaway? Stress itself isn’t the enemy – it's how we respond to it that matters.
Reframing your relationship with stress
Rather than seeing stress as something purely negative, we can change how we think about it. Stress is the body’s way of preparing us to deal with challenges, and by learning to respond rather than react, we can use it to our advantage.
Josh shared a powerful three-step method to help manage stress in that moment:
- Recognise – Acknowledge the stress and accept that it is happening. This step helps to reduce emotional reactivity.
- Reset – Engage in a quick, calming technique such as controlled breathing (inhaling for four seconds, exhaling for six) to signal to the body that it is safe.
- Refocus – Shift attention to the next small, constructive action. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, take things one step at a time.
This simple approach prevents stress from escalating and allows us to stay in control, even in high-pressure situations.
Respond, don’t react
A key theme of the webinar was the importance of responding, not reacting. When faced with a stressful situation, our instinct is often to react immediately, which can escalate tension and increase anxiety. Instead taking a brief pause to consider the best response can prevent unnecessary stress and improve decision-making.
For example, if faced with an overwhelming workload, rather than reacting with panic or avoidance, a structured response – such as prioritising urgent task, delegating where possible, or discussing workload concerns with a manager – can help create a sense of control.
Work-related stress & support
Even if stress isn’t directly related to work, it can still affect performance. The good news is that employers can play a role in supporting their teams by:
- Encouraging open conversations about mental health
- Providing wellbeing resources and support services
- Offering flexibility where possible
- Promoting a positive work culture that values rest and recovery
If you are struggling with chronic stress that is affecting your work, it’s worth speaking to your employer about potential adjustments or available support.
Stress is an inevitable part of life, but the way we handle it is within our control. By developing healthy coping mechanisms and making small, positive changes each day, we can build resilience, protect our wellbeing, and feel more in charge of our stress response.
How Healix can help
Champion Health is a valuable wellbeing partner to Healix Health. Their evidence-based platform is available through our range of healthcare trusts, providing employees with on-demand tools, resources, and expert support to better manage stress and build long-term resilience.
If you're already a member, you can access Champion Health anytime through the My Healix app - helping you take control of your wellbeing, wherever you are.
Discover how Champion Health can be integrated into your corporate healthcare plan to create a happier, healthier workforce.
At Healix Health, we’re all about creating healthcare solutions that work for real people. Our Corporate Healthcare Trusts give you the flexibility to build a plan that fits your unique workforce, while our Multi-Employer Trust offers the same customisable experience to small to medium sized businesses. With our digital platform, Healix ConneX, employees get fast, friendly access to healthcare services—no matter where they are. And our expert team is always on hand to help you review and improve your plan, ensuring that it’s as inclusive and effective as possible.
For more information on how Healix Health supports businesses and their employees, get in touch with our team today.
