Healthy Care Australia has launched its inaugural Take Care Report which highlights, as we head into the holiday season, that Australians are desperately seeking a break from stress. This comes off the back of Australians crediting December as the most stressful month of the year.
Compared to pre-COVID-19 restrictions, more than half of Australians are finding it harder to focus on individual tasks (55%) or are under more family and household stress (51%).
Parents in particular have been hit the hardest when it comes to stress and focus in 2020, with two thirds (67%) of parents of young children (under 17 years old) finding it harder to focus on individual tasks compared to pre-COVID-19.
When it comes to our causes of stress, COVID-19, finances, home balance and sleep are our main concerns and nearly half (46%) of Australians are stressed by the uncertainties of the global pandemic.
For Australians, home overload may play a critical role in feeling out of balance, with 82% feeling their lives are less balanced compared to pre-COVID restrictions.
Jacqueline Alwill, an accredited nutritionist and Healthy Care partner, believes that now more than ever, Australians have the opportunity to recalibrate and arm themselves with the support to tackle the most stressful month of the year.
“Obviously stresses like COVID-19, finances and working from home is something we can’t control, however we can arm our bodies to be as ready and prepared for stress as possible. I actually believe that as a nation we should pay more attention to our mind health.
“When it comes to stress management, there are often some really simple lifestyle tweaks we can make to help calm our mind and prepare our bodies for high stressful times. I’m a big fan of caping your social media catch ups, moving your body every day, putting your legs up on a wall when things get tough, and taking some big, conscious, belly breaths to just bring you back down.
“I also totally believe that you can increase our nutrient intake to promote a calmer mind, that can handle stressful circumstances with greater resilience. Think omega-3 fatty acids so avocadoes, fatty fish like salmon, nuts and seeds. You can also supplement with one of Healthy Care’s Fish Oil. I’m also a huge fan of a warm cup of herbal tea at the end of the day and some Lavender oil. The Healthy Care Mind-Calm is a fantastic support to help relieve restlessness and excess nervous energy in adults,” said Ms Alwill.
“The Healthy Care Ginkgo Biloba range is something that I’m a huge fan of for Australians suffering from stress and concerns with focus. Ginkgo Biloba is a herb traditionally used in Chinese medicine which supports cognitive health, memory and mental capacity. I think now more than ever this is something that is so relevant to Australians,” continued Ms Alwill.
Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.
The Healthy Care Ginkgo Biloba range launched this month in Chemist Warehouse, off the back of the new findings that highlight stress and mental focus as a concern for many Australians. All Healthy Care products are developed in collaboration with pharmacists, nutritionists and experienced health care professionals.
The Healthy Care Take Care Report was conducted by Lonergan Research. The research piece surveyed 1,078 Australians aged 18+ between 20-29 October, 2020.
