This week is Stress Awareness Week! It's so important to find ways to manage stress on a day-to-day basis. This week is the perfect time to understand the effects of stress and raise awareness for the charities that help people who are struggling.
Stress is a very real condition, and it can sneak up on you if you don't find ways to keep it under control. It can also lead to other mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, and stress can make you feel low, irritable and easily emotional.
There are also a few physical symptoms of stress, such as headaches, stomach problems, loss of appetite, chest pain, high blood pressure and issues with sleep.
Sometimes stress is inevitable- such as when a loved one is ill, or if things ramp up at work. However, there are a few things you can do to decrease stress and manage it on a daily basis.
As with other mental health issues, everyone is different. You might need to reduce the amount of hours you work, take more time for self-care or recognise the people in your life who cause stress.
Likely, you will manage stress with a combination of all these things.
In this post, I want to discuss 5 tips to de-stress at the end of the week. As we come up to the weekend, it can be hard to forget about work and properly de-stress- but this is super important to rest and reset before the week ahead.
Whether you work over the weekend or you need to find a few unique ideas to relax before Monday morning, I hope these tips can help you de-stress at the end of the week!
1. Take a break!
It goes without saying, but taking a break is one of the best ways to rest and relax at the end of the week.
Even if you're working over the weekend, plan something that you enjoy too. The end of the week symbolises a time to reset, so even if you have to work, take time to rest your mind and body before the new week.
This might involve a long bubble bath, going for drinks with friends or just making sure you get a good night's sleep before the new week.
2. Enjoy your favourite food
Enjoying your favourite food is one of the best ways to de-stress at the end of the week- and it can give you something delicious to look forward to!
You could take some time to make your favourite food, go for a meal with your friends, order some food for a night-in or even bake lots of treats.
Cooking can be such a mindful, calming activity- and I love making some of my favourite vegan meals at the end of the week. Or ordering a cheeky takeaway!
3. Meet up with friends and family
Meeting up with friends and family is one of the best ways to beat stress at the end of the week.
Sometimes all you need is to get away from your own thoughts, and meeting up with others is a great way to do this. You could go for a drink after work or just call one of your friends to de-stress and have a little catch-up.
Meeting up with others also allows you to rant or discuss your work issues.
If there's something on your mind, a sympathetic ear is so important, and this could be the thing you need to get your work problems off your chest and enjoy your weekend.
4. Clean your living space
Although no-one wants to clean at the weekend, cleaning your living space can actually really help to clear your mind and de-stress at the end of the week- and it can help to get you ready for the next week, too.
You could try cleaning your home as a mindful Saturday activity, or finish off your weekend with a full clean.
There's something about waking up to clean, tidy home on Monday morning that really helps to put you in the right mindset for the week ahead.
5. Switch off your phone for the day
Let's be honest, our phones aren't very good for our mental health or stress levels. Just scrolling on social media can make me feel a bit low and stressed- so I try to avoid it as much as possible.
Switch off your phone for the day, and get a much-needed break from screens, notifications and social media.
It is also easy to compare yourself to others on social media, so if you're already feeling stressed, it won't help to read about what other people are doing with their lives.
This Stress Awareness Week, take some time to put a few helpful, relaxing habits in place to properly de-stress after work.
From spending time with loved ones to enjoying a bit of chilled time, it's so important to look after your stress levels and prioritise your mental and physical health- any day of the year!
Do you have any tips to de-stress at the end of the week? Let me know in the comments!
Love, Sarah xoxo
