Stress has a vital role to play in our day-to-day lives. However, not enough and our body is under-stimulated. Too much can result in headaches and high blood pressure, leading to psychological problems. And even increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
The trick is getting the balance right. Learning to use the higher levels of stress to your advantage in your daily life. While recognising when our body is under-stimulated and potentially a deeper problem as to why you can’t get out of bed!
There are ways to reduce stress; below, we share our top stress busters.
Get active. At your level and in your way. This might be walking to work, getting out of the office at lunchtime, joining a park run or participating in a regular sporting activity.
Me time, when you focus on just you! This might be time spent with the family without distractions (turn that mobile off) or booking a regular massage. On the other hand, it could be one night a week when someone else feeds and baths the kids, or you finish work early to meet friends.
Ditch those unhealthy habits! Tobacco, caffeine and alcohol are all used to reduce stress, yet increase stress, so why not give one up? Okay, that sounds really tough – but with help and support, you will see the benefit.
Get more sleep or better sleep. You will be surprised at the difference a good night’s sleep will make – go to bed earlier and see for yourself. Think about what is keeping you awake at night and take a positive step to address.
Take control of your time. How often have you said, ‘I don’t know where the time goes’? We all have the same amount of hours in the day. It is what we give our attention to and how we prioritise that will release you from the time drain we often find ourselves.
Massage is one of the oldest and simplest treatments and a natural way of releasing tension and pain that is held in the body. Pain that may have occurred due to stress. You don’t need to be unwell to benefit; it can help improve sleep, reduce anxiety, improve concentration and reduce fatigue – the benefits are endless.
