- Keep active! Exercise can benefit both your brain and your body, by helping you to think more clearly and deal with your problems more calmly. Even a simple ten minute walk can have a dramatic effect on your stress levels.
- Try practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness techniques involve paying more attention to the present moment; to your own thoughts, feelings and to the world around you. A daily mindfulness practice can help relieve stress, help us enjoy the world around us and understand ourselves better.
- If you never seem to have enough time, better time management will help you feel more in control. Setting goals can help you work out what to focus on. Breaking problems down into manageable tasks will help you get things done. Keeping a to-do list can help you to plan and prioritise your tasks.
- Know how to say no. Stress can be caused by agreeing to do something that you don’t feel you can manage. We often say yes, because we don’t want to let people down. However, taking too much on can lead to exhaustion and you could end up doing nothing well.
- Connecting with friends and family. If you are having problems, talking them over with a friend can often help you see things more clearly. The activities we do with our friends and family are often relaxing, and laughing with friends is an excellent stress-buster!
