Summer's over, the holidays feel like a distant memory and suddenly the world is back at full speed.

And that back-to-it energy can leave many of us feeling stretched thin.

Stress, in small doses, can help us stay sharp but left unchecked, it can chip away at our health, mood and relationships.

Cortisol, often labelled as the stress hormone has become a bit of a wellness buzzword but it's worth remembering that it isn't the enemy - it's what helps us wake up, stay alert, and handle challenges.

The trick is keeping it in balance, not eliminating it.

Here are five simple, science-backed ways to manage stress and get back in control.

Ironically, worrying about the effects of stress can make it worse.

The more we talk about how much harm stress does, we start to think 'agh now I'm stressed and I know it's doing me lots of harm', so try not to worry about how you're feeling.

Stress is a normal part of life and is unavoidable especially during major challenges........

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