Stress Wisely: How to Be Well in an Unwell World

by Robyne Hanley-Dafoe

It’s time to make stress your ally, not your enemy.

Stress is inherent to the human condition. When not properly understood, stress can wreak havoc on our mental and physical health, our relationships, and our lives. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

In Stress Wisely , award-winning psychology scholar and resiliency expert Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe explains how we can be strategic in stressful times by challenging everything we’ve been told about stress―and wielding its power in our favour.

With her signature honesty, humor, relatability, and intimacy, Dr. Robyne draws on her vast research and real-world experiences in wellness, stress, and resiliency to help you navigate the chaos in the wisest way possible.

Through smart strategies and awareness-raising exercises grounded in science and the eight touchstones of wellness―physical, emotional, intellectual, social environmental, occupational, financial, and spiritual―Dr. Robyne teaches you how to make your nervous system your ally in every stage of your life (yes, even in the most challenging circumstances).

Life is joyful, complicated, messy, and downright hard at times, AND you are capable to navigate it all. In Stress Wisely , get ready to learn, unlearn, and integrate smart stressing principles for a healthier, more meaningful, and purpose-filled life that is waiting for you. Better days are ahead.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mental Health, Self Help, Health

336 pages, Hardcover

Published June 20, 2023

Reviews

[Dustan Woodhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I powered through this book in a few days in May, then went back to the start and went through each chapter much more slowly.

I’ll share two things here that I found particularly powerful;

1. The idea that a single person, even just a single conversation, can completely alter the entire life arc of a child. Of anyone really.

I highlight this because I know I can do a better job of listening, and of pausing to think before I answer.

I’m also aware that I don’t have any idea how much, or how little, the various conversations I have with people will mean to them… and so I should treat them all with greater care.

And so I am.

2. The list of questions on page 148 of Ch 7 ‘Self Management’ - it’s 7 that I’ve printed out and glance at daily.

Probably many of us should do the same.

Thank you for writing this book Dr. Robyne

[pannamigotka_czyta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Każdego dnia zmagamy się z wieloma stresującymi sytuacjami, stres to mój odwieczny towarzyszysz, którego nie mogę się pozbyć, dlatego postanowiłam trochę lepiej go poznać, zagłębić się w jego przyczynach jak i skutkach, chciałam dowiedzieć się jak można poradzić sobie w sytuacjach które nas przerastają, niestety mogę napisać tylko tyle, że książka Robyne Hanley-Dafoe na pewno nie pomogła w polepszeniu mojej relacji ze stresem.


Autorka porusza dosłownie każdy możliwy temat oprócz głównego. Rozumiem, że stres obejmuje różne aspekty, ale jednak czytałam ją dla jednego powodu. Wiem, że przeczytanie jednej książki na ten temat nie nauczy mnie jak radzić sobie ze stresem, ale liczyłam że dowiem się przynajmniej czegoś nowego i dzięki temu zacznę patrzeć na ten problem inaczej. Niestety nie dowiedziałam się niczego nowego, mogę wręcz powiedzieć, że to wszystko doskonale wiem i na pewno nie jedna osoba z was również.

Ciekawsze tematy opisywały to jak rozróżnić czy jesteśmy wyczerpani, zestresowani czy wypaleni. Pojawił się również rozdział o szczęściu duchowym o życiu po śmierci i naszej egzystencji, który tym bardziej jakoś szczególnie mnie nie przekonał jak również opisany problem autorki jak poradziła sobie z nadwagą czy o standardach urody, które nic nie wniosły do tej książki. Parę razy autorka zaznaczała, że zdaje sobie sprawę z tego, że schodzi z tematu, ale najwidoczniej nie przeszkadzało jej to w takim stopniu jak mi.

Co ciekawe Robyne na swoich przykładach życiowych przekazywała nam przykłady stresowych sytuacji. Historie momentami tak abstrakcyjne i podkoloryzowane, że mogłabym nawet pomylić je z wymyślonymi na poczekaniu. Jakby Robyne chciała się wyżalić przed większą publiką jak to ona miała źle i jakie tragedie przeżyła w swoim życiu od wypadku po zgubienie się jej dziecka. Każdy z przykładów opisany jak fabuła jakiegoś filmu. 😬

Po zakończeniu pozycji mogę jedynie wywnioskować, że każdy musi znaleźć swój sposób na radzenie sobie ze stresem i to, że zawsze warto stawiać na pierwszym miejscu siebie. Niestety chyba żadna książka o podobnej tematyce mi nie pomoże. 😅

[Zach Boerger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew within the first few pages that this book is exactly what I was looking for. The tone is kind, gentle, but firm. The author shares her POV on growth, not in a condescending way, but quite the opposite-by sharing her lowest points, even when veiled by professional success. The book spans a wide array of topics and struggles in life, which makes it a great resource-not all topics will be for all readers, but the ones that are for you will pack a punch. I’ve immediately started looking for other books written by Robyne!

[Victoria McLean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was given to me at the 2025 AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference as the author was our keynote speaker. Compared to last year’s speaker, her message was much more applicable to the veterinary field, and I found her book to be enjoyable. I enjoyed her storytelling, and there were a few points about life/stress management that were useful to me. However, I felt that the last third of the book was not as strong and the format became quite repetitive. I had a hard time powering through the end.

[Rachelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stress Wisely... this book is very autobiographical. It touches on key points to classify stress and explain what stress is, but relies on the author's difficult childhood to relate to the reader. It's very specific to her life and not general enough to encompass people who don't share the same experiences as her. I skimmed through most of it because it isn't relevant for my life and situation.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled with this one. I wanted to enjoy it more and take more away. I felt like it jumped around and it included stories that just really didn’t fit. For much of it, I felt like it was pretty common knowledge. There were a couple of interesting points to think about, but mostly, I was pushing myself through it to finish it and see how it ended.

[Breen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skimmed. There are lots of actionable wellness ideas in this book related to different types of stress and the different areas they affect (brain/mental, physical body, heart, etc). Loads of motivational quotes throughout from various famous and not individuals throughout history. Written in an easy to read chapter format with the Dr./author peppering her own personal stories throughout.

[Aidan 18 · Rating 5 out of 5]

admittedly not the biggest fan of some of the portions of this book, but if you’re looking for insights into stress then it’s really good. like understanding the psychological underpinnings of stress along with how to deal with it properly

[Corynn M Cackler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I might have done better with this book if I'd read instead of listened, but had to quit 2/3rds through. The narration is painfully robotic and choppy, and filled with mispronounciations like "drownding" and "nucular". Content was also not novel aside from numerous personal stories.

[Amanda Gerhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robyne's books are always a great thought pervading read. I love her work so much!!

[CreativelyRed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy her books and how she simply sets forward ideas and ways to consider and rethink how we see and frame the stresses in our lives.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this audiobook! Liked the author's voice. She comes across very genuine and as someone who really cares.

[Jenny Ellis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with this book. The author spoke about herself the entire time and the experiences didn’t always feel relevant or relatable. I also did part of this on audiobook. I love audiobooks, but the author was reading her own work, and was not skilled or trained in their reading books. It was a really difficult to listen to.

[Amanda Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read. Applicable to modern day. I will likely read again to see what other value I can pull from it!