Leave your stress behind with these 5 refreshing activities
Stress is an unavoidable part of life and can come from many different places.
Whether it’s trouble at home or work or simply down to uncertain world events, it’s important to recognise when your stress levels become unmanageable. A little bit of stress can boost your motivation to finish a task, but feeling stressed for long periods of time isn’t healthy.
Chronic stress can affect your mental health and has been linked to issues such as anxiety and depression.
Battling stress for long periods can also cause physical symptoms, including:
Nausea
Sweating
Headaches
Hyperventilating
Heart palpitations
Digestive problems
If you are ever struggling with stress, these five refreshing activities could help you to feel more relaxed and ready to take on the day.
1. Exercise
Although it can be hard to motivate yourself while you’re stressed, exercise is a vital part of self-care. As well as rewarding you with mood-boosting endorphins, exercise allows you to work out your frustrations in a healthy way so you can face the rest of your day feeling less irritable.
Exercising doesn’t require a trip to the gym. Any activity you enjoy that raises your heart rate can help you to relax. Try going for a 20-minute walk, cycle to a friend’s house, or dance around your living room to your favourite song.
2. Connect with others
Friends and family can help you deal with periods of stress.
Scientific research shared by the American Heart Association has discovered that spending time with people you trust and establishing a bond with them can naturally lower the body’s stress-related responses. Having a casual chat, playing a board game, or going for a walk with a friend can be a great way to keep stress at bay.
Talking about the things that are causing you stress with someone you trust can also be a helpful way to reduce your worries. You could even get some help with the challenges you’re facing.
Keep an eye on your friends and family so you can offer support if you think they might be struggling. Some signs that they might be stressed are:
They withdraw from your social circle
They’re more irritable than usual
They’re indecisive or inflexible
They have problems sleeping.
If you suspect someone is stressed, offering them a safe space to talk about their issues can help immensely.
3. Get enough sleep
When you’re stressed, sleep tends to be the first thing you sacrifice. Missing out on this important time of rest only leads to more stress, trapping you in a dangerous cycle.
An adult should get seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Sleep is the time when your body recharges, which is what allows you to wake up feeling relaxed and ready to tackle the day.
If you’re struggling to sleep, there are a few tricks you can try. For example, going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can train your brain to drift off faster and wake up refreshed.
You should also try to limit the amount of caffeine you consume, as well as how long you spend on your phone or computer near bedtime.
4. Spend time in nature
Going outside can be very calming. Taking time out from your busy schedule to enjoy the beauty of nature can distract you from your stress and boost your mood.
The British Heart Foundation has shared research findings that spending just 20 minutes in nature can significantly reduce the level of cortisol – known as the “stress hormone” – in your body.
Try taking yourself out on a picnic or read a book in the garden. You could also meet up with a friend or family member and enjoy a warm drink on a park bench to help you reconnect with the people you love.
5. Consult a financial planner to reduce money worries
Money worries can cause significant amounts of stress. The current cost of living crisis has affected lots of different areas of life, including utilities and groceries.
This is where a financial planner can be a helpful person to turn to. Royal London has found that 42% of people who have sought financial advice feel confident about the future compared to just 32% of people who have not. In addition, 32% of people who had sought financial advice agreed that it had provided them with peace of mind.
The feelings of wellbeing increase for people who develop a good long-term relationship with their planner.
So, working with a financial planner who you trust can help you to improve your financial stability. Perhaps more importantly, it can help to reduce your stress so that you feel more confident about the future.
Get in touch
If you’re looking for a reliable financial planner in Towcester who can help you to feel confident about the future, please get in touch.
Email theteam@fortitudefp.co.uk or call us on 01327 354321.
Please note
This blog is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at retail clients only.