Reduce Stress

5 Ways to reduce stress

Nowadays we all feel stressed for one reason or another. Stress has unfortunately become a normal part of our life and it doesn’t help that the whilst working is mostly where we feel under pressure and overwhelmed.

A little stress is good for us, but over a long time, stress can be hard to deal with and it can be very bad for our health.

The good news is that you’re not alone in this, the majority of the working population have experienced stress at work.

The 2020 workplace stress survey highlighted that a staggering 79% commonly experience work-related stress.

This is 20% higher than 2018’s findings.

Stress is common and it’s important that you know the best ways to cope with it.

Coping with stress can be complex, but here are our 5 simple top tips that can help you to stress less:

1. Stress Diary

Keep a diary for a couple of weeks and write down when you’re stressed and how you react to it. This way, it’ll be easier to understand what causes your stress and how you can better cope with it.

2. Calming Techniques

Learn how to calm your body and mind by doing relaxation. Include activities that help you relax in your daily routine such as: focusing on your breathing, listening to music, spending more time outdoors or taking up a hobby.

Check out our relaxation audios

or if you’re short on relaxation ideas, visit: mind.org.uk.

3. Lifestyle Changes

Watch your lifestyle. Eat healthily, drink less alcohol and stop smoking. Eating well will help you control your weight, make you feel less bloated and reduce the risk of diseases such as coronary heart disease. Smoking and drinking can be very bad for your health and won’t relieve the symptoms of stress in the long term.

4. Get Active

Get active and stay active. Any physical activity is good for your body and mind as it’s a positive distraction from your worries and problems. When you’re doing sports or exercise, your brain releases endorphins that help you relieve your symptoms of stress and make you feel happier and more energetic.

Find what method of physical activity works best for you, something that you enjoy will be the best option for stress reduction and long-term change

5. Get a Massage

Often when we’re stressed, our muscles get stiff and tense, as stress can cause or aggravate physical conditions such as back pain, headaches, and high blood pressure. Massage therapy can help our body to relax and reduce our stress related pain. There are many different types of massage, so it is recommended that you speak to a massage therapist first and find the best techniques for you.

Remember that stress isn’t always a bad thing. For example, when you have some important work to do, a little stress can help you stay focused and give you the right boost you need to achieve your target.

Surround yourself with positive people and always make time for your family and friends. Accept things that you can’t change and try not to worry about too many things at once.

5 TOP TIPS TO LESS STRESS

SUMMARISED

1. Keep a stress diary

2. Engage in relaxing activities

3. Practice healthy behaviours

4. Stay active

5. Try massage

Even improving just 1 of these areas of your work life can have a significant impact on your wellbeing and can help to improve your health and happiness at work!