How many micro stress doses have you had already today?

The average morning is filled with Micro Stress Doses or MSDs as Dr Chatterjee calls them in his new book Happy Mind, Happy Life.

Examples:

• Your alarm going off which jolts you awake from a deep sleep

• Checking emails and already thinking of what you didn’t do yesterday or what you need to do today

• Checking the news

• Looking at social media and seeing something you don’t like

• Getting kids and pets ready for the day ahead

• Running late

Dr Chatterjee says that these MSDs increase our stress levels and lower our resilience. So when that email at 3pm frustrates us, we think it’s due to the email but it’s actually because of all the micro doses of stress we have experienced so far that have caused us to reach our stress threshold. We may not even be aware of them as they’re so familiar.

How do we take back control and have more influence on our stress threshold?

First identify what your MSDs are. Are they things you can’t change or just habits you’ve slipped into?

Dr Chatterjee suggests making your morning routine include the 3Ms of Mindfulness, Movement and Mindset. Here are some ideas including some resources here on My Wellness Hub:

Mindfulness - breathing, meditation, being present and doing nothing for a few minutes

Movement - stretches, yoga or something more energising

Mindset - listening to a podcast, journalling or reading a few pages of an inspiring book.

You haven’t got time? Even a 5 minute routine incorporating the 3Ms will make a difference to your day. Give it a try!

Click here to listen to the full podcast on this with Dr Chatterjee on Diary of a CEO.