How to STRESS-PROOF your life

Doctors have long been using the term ‘burnout’ to refer to people who are experiencing severe chronic stress, and in March this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) finally recognised burnout as an official medical condition. It’s been classified as an occupational phenomenon, and symptoms include feeling exhausted or depleted of energy, experiencing increased mental distance from your job or feelings of cynicism related to it, as well as reduced professional efficacy. WHO cites stress as the most significant health epidemic of the 21st century and, according to Bloomberg, South Africa is the second most stressed country in the world.

‘We live in a highly pressurised society,’ says Sandton-based stress consultant Bridget Edwards, author of . ‘Stress has just exploded.’ She puts this down to poor lifestyle choices, including an unhealthy diet, not enough sleep, and the fact that we never switch off our phones and take time to disconnect