Let’s be honest, after a summer of adventures and long sunny days spent bare feet on the beach, getting back into the swing of school and work can be hard! Any kind of change, including our system adjusting to the return to school or the office, can cause stress. But one thing that can help us cope with stress is how resilient we are.

What is resilience? Resilience is the ability to reframe stress in a positive light: stress can become something to accept and embrace as a regular part of our busy lives, rather than something to fear. It starts with taking care of yourself so you’re able to navigate change and challenges that are a normal part of life.

Here are some things you can do right now to help you and your family with the back-to-work-and-school transition.

Spend time in nature

There’s plenty of research that shows spending time in nature enhances our wellbeing, including reducing our stress hormone levels. Go for a walk in the park at lunchtime or make the most of the extra daylight with a post-work or after-school beach visit.

Eat well

A nutritious diet supports our vitamin and mineral levels, balances our blood sugar and mood, and supplies good energy. Allocate five to ten minutes in the morning to sit down for breakfast and step away from your desk at lunch. Kids benefit from a low sugar breakfast, lots of healthy protein in their lunchbox and wholefood snacks once school is over.

Connect with your community

Connecting with friends, family and the wider community is so valuable in building resilience. Being present, playful and having a laugh together is essential to our sense of optimism – one of the cornerstones of resilience. Meeting loved ones for a walk, picking up the phone or signing up to learn a new skill are all great ways of connecting with others. Maybe 2020’s the year you finally learn how to bake as good as your mum, ballroom dance or knit your fur baby a scarf?

Sleep soundly

Prioritising good sleep, even if this means sacrificing some fun stuff at night, will make a world of difference. Feeling rested helps us deal better with the stresses of the day ahead. Start a soothing bedtime routine to help you drift off. It doesn’t have to be complicated, it could be simply switching off your phone and TV one hour before bed, enjoying a cup of sleepy tea or indulging in some meditation (we love apps like Headspace).

Build resilience with Kiwiherb products

For you, try Kiwiherb StressCare. Ideal for long-term or short-term use, you can use it daily. It contains Withania which is traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to support a healthy stress response in the body and relieve symptoms of stress. Withania is combined with Vitamins B3 and B6 which are scientifically proven to decrease symptoms of mild anxiety.

For your family, Kiwiherb Kid's Calm is ideal back-to-school support. It contains Chamomile which has been used for centuries in Western herbal medicine to soothe and calm the nerves and mind for a more relaxed child; reduce restless sleep, and support your child's stomach by relieving digestive spasms and symptoms of stomach upsets.

All Kiwiherb products use organically certified and locally grown ingredients wherever possible, for maximum goodness.

Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.