Did you learn anything new this Stress Awareness Day? We certainly did here at The Spa at Bedford Lodge Hotel and would love to share our top tips with all of you to keep your toolkit full up, for whenever you feel overwhelmed. Especially as evidence shows that there is an overwhelming 79% of UK adults that feel stressed at least once a month*, a statistic that we are keen to collectively support in lowering across the nation.
So, next time you feel stress building, try one of these below tips, which include a mixture of preventative and quick fix hacks:
- Deep breathing exercises: Sometimes the mind simply needs a timeout to get centred and calm back down amidst the chaos. My favourite is the 4x4x4 technique, you could even try it now. Take a deep breath in for four, hold for four and release for four. Repeat 10 times. Feel different yet?
- Regular exercise: An excellent way to keep stress at bay is to keep the body and its energy moving. The most important step here is to find something that works for you, be it running, or cycling, or maybe you prefer something a little gentler like walking or yoga. It doesn’t matter what other people are doing, this is about what makes YOU feel good!
- Reduce caffeine: It’s no secret that caffeine can be a significant culprit for creating anxiety in the body. That’s not to say that you must cut it out altogether, especially if you enjoy it like me! But try limiting your intake to one small serving per day. I also try to avoid caffeine after lunch time too, and I have noticed all the difference since.
- Share your feelings: They say a problem shared is a problem halved, and while it might sound cliché, they’re not wrong. Try speaking to a close friend or family member about your concerns or feelings of overwhelm. If you’d prefer to keep these private, a journal acts as a great alternative, allowing you to brain dump what’s inside your head, onto the page.
What else would you add? Let me know in the comments!
Kate x
*https://www.priorygroup.com/mental-health/stress-treatment/stress-statistics