The article focused on the positive implications of short-term stress, as it can boost the immune system and improve health. However over the longer term, it can seriously damage wellbeing.

Professor Kinman emphasised that everybody needs a break from the pressures of life and work.

“Everybody has to deal with stress, but it is vital to allow your mind and body sufficient time to recover from the stress response. A constant state of arousal will, over the long term, impair health and job performance. It is a particular problem for those who work in the ‘helping’ professions, such as social workers and nurses”

Professor Kinman also suggests in BBC Focus that to get the most out of downtime it is best to use active rather than passive recovery strategies. Activities that use different functional systems to those we use at work and those that require total absorption are particularly helpful. Nonetheless, “seeking support from your friends and family is by far the best way of getting replenishment and recovery,’’ says Professor Kinman.

In the BBC Focus article, Professor Kinman suggests perceptions surrounding stress must change and with that changes to stress responses follow. She highlights the key to making changes is recognising stress and the effect on the body.