April is National Stress Awareness Month. The goal of this month is raising awareness of the impacts of stress. There is no single definition of stress, but the most common explanation is physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension. While not all stress is bad, long-term stress can have harmful impacts on physical and mental health.
Stress is a big issue for Britain today. In the UK’s largest ever stress survey, 74% of people said stress has made them feel overwhelmed and unable to cope.
Stress is our body’s response to pressure. It makes us produce hormones that activate our ‘fight or flight’ response and can affect our well-being.
Most people feel stressed sometimes and some people can find low levels of stress helpful or even motivating. But if stress is affecting your life, there are things you can try that may help.
Below are 8 activities for ways to cope with stress. Most of these can be done in under 10 minutes, so even if you’re rushed off your feet, you’ll be able to find something here to help.
Do something creative
When we’re doing something creative, we’re using a different part of the brain to where stress is occurring. Even if it’s for 5 minutes, being creative can help to relieve feelings of pressure. You could draw, doodle, sew, sing, or cook yourself your favourite meal.
Get outside
Being outside in nature is great for our wellbeing. Going for a short walk or sitting in a green space can have an extremely calming effect on how we feel.
Move your body
Exercise is a very effective way to combat stress. When we exercise our bodies release endorphins which help us feel good. This doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in the gym – you could go for a walk, or dance around your living room to your favourite songs. You’d be surprised how much of a mood-booster it is!
Meditation and mindfulness
Meditation is the practice of noticing your emotions and gaining a sense of perspective on them. It’s typically done by sitting or lying down in a quiet place and focusing on your breathing. When you meditate, you’re learning to focus on the present moment and gradually let go of outside thoughts or distractions.
Write it down
You’d be surprised what a relief it can be to write down what you’re thinking and feeling. You’re not writing with the aim of anyone reading it, just for yourself to get down on paper what you’re feeling. This can be a big stress reliever.
Do something you enjoy
When we’re really busy, it’s easy to eliminate the things we enjoy from our schedule. But these are the things which help us to relieve stress.
Talk to someone
As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved. Speaking to a friend, loved one, colleague or therapist can help you to lighten the load you may be feeling. The person you’re talking to may also be able to help you organise your thoughts, create an action plan, or take some tasks off your plate.
Listen to music
Music can have an excellent mood-boosting effect. Sometimes belting out the lyrics to a cheesy ballad makes everything seem all right. If you’re in a public place, s listening to your favourite music can help you feel better quickly. Classical music can be especially relaxing right before bedtime.