Stress related illness is on the rise as the demands of life increase and we seemingly have less time for that all important 'me time'. I'm sure most of us can put our hands up and say we have felt stressed at times, and I absolutely include myself in that (I am only human too!). However, despite the increase of life pressures and the rise of stress, there are ways to limit the amount of stress you feel, manage it, and even reduce it.
The 5th of NOvember marks National Stress Awareness Day in the UK and this year (2014) a common theme for the day is 'the balancing act'. This means trying to ensure that a healthy work/life balance is maintained in order to reduce stress and increase happiness. Achieving and maintaining a healthy work/life balance can be difficult at times. With many of us working shifts, long hours, evenings or weekends, it can sometimes feel like there's far too much work and not enough play. Is it really as difficult as it seems to achieve that work/life balance, though?
Over time I have come to believe that if we want to have a healthy work/life balance then we will do it. There are 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week, which means there is (or should be) plenty of time to fit in work, life commitments, and 'me time'. Obviously this is easier said than done, otherwise we would all have that balance just right, so here are my top tips for achieving and maintaining a healthy work/life balance in order to reduce stress:
The 5th of NOvember marks National Stress Awareness Day in the UK and this year (2014) a common theme for the day is 'the balancing act'. This means trying to ensure that a healthy work/life balance is maintained in order to reduce stress and increase happiness. Achieving and maintaining a healthy work/life balance can be difficult at times. With many of us working shifts, long hours, evenings or weekends, it can sometimes feel like there's far too much work and not enough play. Is it really as difficult as it seems to achieve that work/life balance, though?
Over time I have come to believe that if we want to have a healthy work/life balance then we will do it. There are 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week, which means there is (or should be) plenty of time to fit in work, life commitments, and 'me time'. Obviously this is easier said than done, otherwise we would all have that balance just right, so here are my top tips for achieving and maintaining a healthy work/life balance in order to reduce stress:
- Look at what is causing you stress. It could be work or perhaps it's family life pressures. Whatever it may be, write down the issue(s) that is causing you stress. Having something written down can make it seem more real and enables you to see what is causing you stress.
- Think about how you might be able to overcome the issue that is causing you stress. If you are doing too much at work, perhaps you could look at doing less. Do you have to do lots of overtime? Do you always have to say yes to extra workloads? The answer is of course no and it is ok to say non. If it's home life pressures that are causing you to feel stressed, think about what you could do to reduce those pressures. Communication is important in just about every aspect of life, so don't be afraid to ask family members or friends for help if you need it. Write down what you intend to do. Once it's written down, you have to follow through with it, right?
- Put your phone down and turn the computer off. Technology can be incredibly distracting. Texts, emails, Facebook and Twitter notifications all come through to smartphones these days and it can become a constant cycle of checking your phone, seeing what's going on, replying, and so on... It doesn't have to be like that. Personally, when the evening comes I like to put my phone on silent and spend time with my partner or indulge in some 'me time'. Give it a go yourself and enjoy how liberating it feels.
If you're still feeling stressed after giving the tips above a go, or if your work/life balance isn't the issue, then try the following stress busting tips:
- Be prepared for tomorrow. If you've got a busy day tomorrow, make sure you prepare for it the day before. It could be making sure your bag is packed the night before or sorting out your outfit so you haven't got to spend time the next morning looking for something to wear. Knowing you've got everything ready may help to put you at ease and it also means the following day will get off to an easy, stress free start.
- Eat healthily. Of course this benefits your physical health, but what you eat can also affect your mind and indeed your stress levels. Having a balanced diet has the power to reduce your stress levels. The odd piece of chocolate is no bad thing, though.
- Put on some music and dance the stress away. Bursts of activity can do wonders, plus this can be a lot of fun.
- Put on some music, put your feet up, and take half an hour for yourself to calm down. An alternative to putting on music and energetically dancing, which can be just as beneficial.
- Run a hot bubble bath. This is something we all enjoy doing, right?
- Try breathing exercises. Inhale deeply for a count of four, then exhale for a count of four. Repeat this exercise for about two minutes twice each day and you may well find it helps to reduce your stress levels.
- Talk or write about what is causing you stress. Letting it all out can be incredibly beneficial. Keeping a diary or talking to a friend/family member may be just the thing you need to do.
If you try all of those techniques and find none of them work, then visiting a therapist could be the answer. Counselling and hypnotherapy are both powerful tools in their own right that can help people to manage, reduce and even eliminate their stress. Hypnotherapy in particular includes relaxation techniques and can be very valuable for overcoming stress.
The most important thing is that you don't keep it to yourself. Letting stress bottle up inside you could ultimately have very damaging results once that bottle becomes full and explodes. The saying is that a problem shared is a problem halved, and whether that's actually the case or not, there are no doubt some benefits of talking to someone and sharing how you feel.
Daniel Browne
Counsellor, Hypnotherapist, Coach
07816 181428
daniel@daniel-browne.co.uk
