Unfortunately, stress is a big part of modern life- and it can feel unavoidable with work, family and social pressures.
However, there are a few ways to reduce stress and look after yourself on a daily basis.
It's particularly important to keep an eye on your stress levels during busy times, otherwise stress and burnout can creep up on you. By investing time in self-care, you can look out for your mental health before stress becomes a bigger issue.
April is Stress Awareness Month, a time when we think about ways to reduce stress and look after our physical and mental health.
This occasion first started in 1992 to raise awareness for modern-day stress- and it encourages anyone to have an open conversation about their mental health.
During April, the Stress Management Society encourages you to take part in a 30-day challenge. Every day, you choose one thing to improve your physical or mental health- and you do this for 30 days.
This challenge is running throughout April- but you could choose to implement positive changes in your life at any time of the year.
If you need inspiration, I've put together 5 self-care activities to reduce stress in your daily life.
I hope these ideas can help you create a successful self-care routine to prevent burnout and look out for your health.
1. Buy yourself a treat
How often do you buy yourself a treat? It's so important to treat yourself whenever you can to give your mood a little boost and look after your mental health.
It doesn't have to be expensive! You could pick up something delicious for tea, buy yourself a new book to read or just wander around your local charity shops.
If you're a parent, you might use all your time looking after other people. Spend a bit of time and money on yourself this Stress Awareness Month.
2. Practice breathing exercises
Practising breathing exercises is a simple but effective way to look after yourself and implement a bit of self-care into your routine.
When you're feeling stressed or anxious, take yourself aside to practice breathing or follow a guided meditation. This can give you chance to relax your breathing, your body and your mind.
3. Take a bath
This is a self-care classic for a reason! Taking a bath is a great way to reduce physical and mental stress. You can soak any stressed, sore muscles and take some time to yourself.
If you don't like baths, you could do something else to relax and pamper yourself. For example, you could take a long shower and complete your skincare routine or paint your nails for the afternoon.
It's all about taking some time to rest, relax and practise self-care.
4. Watch your favourite film
Self-care doesn't have to be anything big or fancy! You could just settle in front of the TV and watch your favourite feel-good film or TV show for a couple of hours.
If you like to take yourself out on solo dates, you could head to the cinema for the afternoon, and this is a great way to take a break from daily stress.
You have to put your phone away for the duration of the film, meaning you're forced to avoid work messages or social stresses- and this is a fantastic self-care activity to treat yourself in April.
5. Take a break from social media
Take regular breaks from social media to look after your physical and mental health this Stress Awareness Month.
Social media can cause a lot of stress, especially when you see regular tweets about topics that make you feel angry or when you compare yourself to other people on your timeline.
Take a break from your social media accounts for the weekend or for a whole week to manage your stress levels and look after your mental health.
What self-care activities do you practise to reduce your stress? Let me know in the comments!
Love, Sarah xoxo
