Stress awareness month 2022
April is Stress Awareness Month, so we’ve put together some of our favourite top tips on how we try to manage our stress levels, the best way we can!
1. Exercise
Exercise no matter how small can help massively in changing our mood. Releasing good endorphins helps to relieve the body of any negativity we may be carrying within our posture and muscles. Not only is exercise one of the key factors in becoming a healthier version of yourself, but it is also a great way to destress. This can simply be setting some time aside to go for a walk and breathe in some fresh air, a short 15-minute home workout, going for a swim or a trip to the gym.
If workouts aren’t really your thing, classes such as Yoga and Pilates are a fantastic way to stretch away your woes. Whatever type of exercise floats your boat, it is a great way to relieve some stress and get healthier at the same time – winning!
2. Meditation and relaxation
Meditation is considered a type of mind-body medicine which allows us to produce a deep state of relaxation and a tranquil mind. Meditation isn’t for everyone, but it is a great way to try and silence the mind. Meditation enables the mind to focus and eliminate all the thoughts crowding the mind and causing stress. There are 9 different types of meditation, and plenty of accessible resources online to help you find which works best for you. Many people who are suffering with stress will often struggle with getting to sleep too. YouTube and Spotify both have easily accessible music playlists with an array of different sounds such as beach waves, birds chirping, and rainfall to simply name a few. A great way to relax and turn off your mind in hope of a good night’s sleep!
3. Connect with people
It seems a simple solution, but we can often feel like we don’t want to burden our friends, family or colleagues with our issues. This however is not healthy for the mind. Take the time to connect with the people you have around you, your trusted support network can help to ease your work troubles.
The activities we participate in with friends and family help us to relax, so make the time and get together. Rid yourself of those stresses and reconnect – laughter is infectious!
4. ‘Me’ time
How often can you say you have any ‘me’ time? What is meant by that, is time away from work, your kids or partner and time spent by yourself doing something relaxing or enjoyable. Reading a book, participating in a social club, dinner with friends, a relaxing candle lit bath or perhaps watching your favourite film or series on Netflix. Whatever you consider to be ‘me’ time, try and set aside an evening or two a week to focus on yourself, a positive mindset and some self-care.
And there you have it, four ways to help manage stress. We hope you find our top tips useful!