Stress is a normal part of life that can become overwhelming as a result of work, relationship or money worries. However, there are habits we can build into our day to combat it and even ones we can practise during non-stressful periods to make us more resilient when under pressure.

As a neuroscientist, I’ve considered the evidence over the last few years and incorporated around a dozen daily activities into my routine to help me cope with stress. There are also bonus practices that I reserve for particularly stressful times.

There are benefits in starting any of these habits today – even if you’ve never done them before. They will help with your stress levels but they’re not prescriptive and you don’t have to do them every day to see improvements.