From major life changes to everyday worries that never seem to dissipate, stress is a common element in most people’s lives these days. With a fast-paced lifestyle to keep up with; to striving for the best in all areas of life, from relationships to work; to experiencing life events that put a strain on your mental and physical health, stress can come from anywhere. It’s no wonder that three quarters of the UK population in the nation’s largest known stress study felt so stressed they said they were overwhelmed or unable to cope.
Affecting one’s emotional, mental and physical health, it’s important to recognise when too much stress is causing a negative impact on our wellbeing and to try to find ways to make positive changes.
From taking some time out to tap into your creative side to exerting some physical energy, to focusing on ways in which you can relax, we look at all the ways in which you can de-stress for a more positive, stress-free life.
Get creative
Busy minds can be hard to quieten, so if you find it hard to completely relax, a great way to channel some of that mental energy is to carry out a creative activity. You don’t have to be a particularly creative person to enjoy art and crafts, some activities like diamond painting will have a beautiful template for you to complete, leaving you with a stunning piece of art to hang in your home. What’s more there are so many different designs to choose from that once you’ve completed your first masterpiece, you’ll be ordering plenty more to channel your energy into.
From painting to puzzling, card making to colouring books for adults, jewellery making, rock painting, writing and more, there are plenty of ways to de-stress while also crafting something beautiful to look at. You could take a class to hone your skills, if you wish, just remember to do it solely for the reason that you enjoy it. Make sure your creative outlet is something that’s just for you and your wellbeing and incorporate it into your daily or weekly life going forward as a way to manage any stresses life throws your way.
Get physical
There’s no doubt that moving more and finding ways to move in a fun way for you is going to help with reducing stress. Physical activity has been known to increase the brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters (endorphins) and in addition to this, getting more exercise in will increase your overall health and sense of well-being, while keeping you distracted from any stressors in your life.
You could choose to incorporate some gentle movement into your day, such as a yoga or Pilates session in the morning to start your day off on a positive note, or perhaps you’d be more suited to something a little more energetic, like swimming or running. Joining a gym or local exercise classes can bring with them opportunities to socialise, or maybe you’d like a walk or cycle in the great outdoors to destress.
Another great way to reduce stress is to try earthing (also called grounding). This involves direct contact with the earth, such as walking barefoot on grass or sand. It’s a simple practice that can help balance your energy and promote relaxation, making it a great addition to any outdoor activity for boosting your mood.
Whatever you choose, make sure you enjoy it and it won’t be a chore – skipping, dancing, and hula hooping are all great ways up your endorphins while tapping into your inner child and letting go.
Get relaxed
While there’s a time for switching your mind into creative mode, and a time to exercise, you’ll also most certainly be needing to find some time to slow down, breathe, and relax while doing very little at all. Those of us who are in a constant state of stress will find it incredibly difficult to do nothing, so it’s important to challenge that over a period of time in order to become a more relaxed person overall.
A great way to start is to curate your very own wellness plan. Do this by writing a list of all of the things that you enjoy doing that you find relaxing, make a plan of when you are going to do all of these things and also schedule in some relaxing time every day. It can be anything from a candlelit bath to 20 minutes of meditation to a spa day to reading a book, just make sure that you also prioritise sleep, and if that means having an extra 15 to 20 minutes in bed each day, then be sure to do this.
