Reduce Stress, Build Resiliency

Welcome back to Happier and Healthier with Nest! Today, I’m recapping an amazing talk by Jill Verchota-Luce, a health management consultant with Marsh McLennan Agency and a registered dietician with a background in functional and integrative nutrition. Jill, who’s certified in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, had some fantastic insights on reducing stress and building resiliency.

She started by sharing that we’re more stressed than we were before the pandemic. Over a quarter of adults feel like they could use more support but don’t know where to start. Jill explained that stress is essentially a signal—your body’s way of telling you something needs to change.

Jill offered a practical approach: Assess, Appreciate, and Adjust. Start by assessing your life—how are you spending your time, energy, money? What do you need more of? Fun? Socialization? Then, focus on expanding your coping skills.

One simple formula she shared was D > CS = SR: when demands exceed your coping skills, you experience a stress reaction. To combat that, Jill recommends time management strategies like time blocking and identifying what’s urgent or just a distraction.

She also shared quick stress reducers: two minutes of deep breathing, journaling before bed, grabbing coffee with a friend, and movement, which is one of the most effective coping skills.

So, take a moment today to reflect, appreciate where you are, and try one of these strategies. Thanks for tuning in, and I’ll see you next time on Happier and Healthier with Nest!

Resources:

Jill Verchota-Luce

Burnout

Matrix Time Management Table

4o