You’ve probably seen lots in the news and on social media about stress awareness month and we wanted to share some easy top tips that you can incorporate into your daily life, across the week they should contribute to positive changes in your mental wellbeing.
Our top 5 tips to help combat stress;
1. Exercise regularly – A big one for us here at Bootcamp se16, years of experience in this industry have shown us what a powerful impact exercise can have on the body and mind. Exercise has been shown to release endorphins—natural substances that help you feel better and maintain a positive attitude. Find an exercise you enjoy that suits your wants and needs – walking, jogging, running, Yoga, Tai Chi, Boxing – there’s a world of options to choose from to keep you moving! And don’t forget to factor in those rest days, they are just as important as the exercise it’s self.
2. Nurture your body with food and drink – take the time to really think about what you’re putting into your body. If you reach for unhealthy snacks or alcohol to help combat stress, this may help in the short term but the long term affects are worse and you’ll find yourself stuck in a viscous cycle. Aim to eat a variety of colourful foods, packed with nutrients and vitamins, whilst also enjoying treats and alcohol in moderation.
3. Reduce your triggers of stress – Take some time to look at your day to day living and work out what is causing you the most stress or anxiety, work out who or how you can ask others to help, you simply cannot do everything! If running your home is a stress, look to getting a cleaner, or arranging an online food delivery, if having no time to exercise is making you feel lethargic, schedule your workouts into your diary or calendar and stick to them! It’s not always easy but working on your time management will have a huge impact on your productivity and any extra stress you’re facing when worrying about not getting things done, the more you can simplify certain areas of your life, the more energy and time you’ll have for the important things, make those your priority.
4. Have realistic goals and expectations – If there are goals you are working towards, set small achievable tasks to begin with to get you started, then increase as you go. Having a huge goal can feel daunting and overwhelming but breaking it down will make it feel far more manageable. Writing lists will also help to clear your mind and give you a focus, keep a pad and pen by your bed to jot down any worries, thoughts or to-do’s before bed to help you sleep better.
5. Seek professional help – there are medications out there that can help combat stress and anxiety, if you’ve tried other methods and they just aren’t working for you, then look into these other options. In the thick of stress you may feel like you’re treading water, some medications can help you to see clearer and be able to take better care of yourself. Talking to a therapist can help massively with mental clarity, there may be underlying issues or traumas you’ve experienced that are affecting you without realising.
Check out https://www.stress.org.uk/ and take their ‘stress test’ to find out your stress levels. Their site is packed full of information, guidance and help for everyone.