Stress Awareness Month 2022
29th March 2022
29th March 2022
April is Stress Awareness Month. For the past 30 years, health care professionals and wellbeing experts across the UK have joined forces each April to increase the public’s awareness of the causes and cures for stress.
We can all suffer with stress from time to time, either in the workplace or at home. However, enduring long periods of stress can have detrimental effects on our mental and physical wellbeing.
Extended periods of stress have been linked to a range of different health issues including mood, sleep and appetite problems. It has also been associated with serious physical problems, such as heart attacks and strokes.
There are several ways you can limit stress in your life. These include:
Limiting your consumption of caffeine, alcohol and nicotine can help to reduce stress levels, as these are all stimulants. Try to opt for water, herbal teas and natural fruit juices instead. By staying hydrated, your body is more able to cope with stressful situations.
You can keep calmer by minimising the amount of refined sugar you consume. Refined sugars tend to be found in manufactured foodstuffs and can cause energy level crashes – increasing feelings of irritability and tiredness. By eating a healthy and well-balanced diet, you can prevent this.
When we are stressed, hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol increase in our bodies. These hormones can be metabolised via exercise and can put the body back into a more relaxed state. By being active – such as walking around a picturesque spot like The Pantiles – you can give your mind a break and enjoy fresh air and a change of environment. Regular physical activity has also been proven to improve your ability to sleep well at night.
We want you to be kept up-to-date with the latest information, news, events and offers from The Pantiles, but constantly staring at a phone, a computer or any other sort of digital screen can add to stress levels. Try to switch off from these devices for at least a couple of hours every day. It is also advisable to stop looking at screens an hour before bedtime.
You don’t need to be an expert artist to find stress relief via creative pursuits! By doing things such as painting, sculpting, knitting or drawing, you can divert your mind from stress and find alternative ways of being calm. Activities such as crafting also require repetitive fine motor skills, which can also help to alleviate stress and anxiety.
A great way to diffuse stress is via laughter. Laughter releases endorphins – the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, and this promotes an overall feeling of wellbeing. It’s even been proven that laughter can provide temporary pain relief.
Browsing your favourite stores is a great way of alleviating stress. Shopping engages all the senses and is the perfect distraction for the trials and tribulations of modern life.
Take a trip to The Pantiles this month to help sooth away any stress and anxiety.
Find out more about Stress Awareness Month: www.stress.org.uk