Every April, stress focus month has been held every April, seeing that 1992 to elevate recognition of the causes and cures for our modern-day stress epidemic. The final years had been the most challenging as we have confronted in 2020 due to the world wide pandemic.
During these 12 months, our theme is network. We've chosen this theme because the loss of help can cause loneliness and isolation, which in flip lowers humans' wellbeing, influences mental fitness, and may cause mental illness. Social isolation is a critical risk aspect for both deteriorating intellectual fitness and suicide.
As we emerge from the pandemic, community support is vital and should remain. Even though restrictions have especially been lifted, everyone still wants help now extra than ever as they modify to a new manner of living. The pandemic has had an extremely damaging impact on the state's intellectual health and experience of the community. Disrupted social lives, the cancellation of large gatherings, international flight journey regulations, and domestic operations have stored us in one vicinity for a long time. But, one of the positives to emerge from this extraordinary scenario has been the community spirit and help proven with the aid of so many to so many.
We've compiled a list to help you deal with and prevent stress in honour of stress awareness month!
P.s. we've seen a few articles promoting gum chewing and candle lighting. Let's be clear they sound great, but they're probably not going to change much for you! We're here to share some tried and tested methods that will have you breathing deeper and smiling wider.
Chuckle
Uh oh... are we already breaking our promise? No! We're not just going to tell you to laugh and then leave it. Here are our favourite methods to force a chuckle or too two out and the science behind the laughing!
Why does it work? Putting it simply, our brains aren't as all-powerful as we think! We can trick them into thinking that we're happy/relaxed/stressed. We don't have the space to fit it all in here, but we thought we would let you know where you can find the science.
Now, what do we recommend?
Our own research (asking the office and cheering ourselves up on a Monday morning) has shown that stand-up comedy and baby/animal videos have the highest success rate when forcing out a smile and laugh.
Here are our top favourites:
• Now Some Dogs and Other Furry Friend
Exercise
Trust Me! We know! There is nothing more stressful than having to go on a run. It keeps us up at night more than anything else, but running isn't the only exercise.
First... here's the science:
Research shows that the top form of exercise prevents stress in a group sport. That's a touchy subject right now, considering there is a pandemic. But if and when you can, we recommend committing to weekly group sport that isn't going to stress you out even more. Go for something that you're a beginner at and won't get too competitive doing.
We're going to list the silliest team supports shortly so you can get your giggle on, but first, we want to let you know some flexible things you can do alone so that you can de-stress whenever you need!
Walks! Yes... they're apparent, but they're also a low effort/ high reward form of exercise that can be done anywhere. We walk where we can rather than designate specific times as it means we can integrate it more swiftly into our daily routines, but if you need to leave the laptop behind and walk until you reach the next town over, do that!
Swimming is slightly less accessible, but it is also a great form of cardio that trains your lungs! Better breathing = less stress
Dancing! Turn ABBA up to the max, put on some flares and dance till you've sweat through your sweatband. Why? Because exercise and music are two of the biggest stress reducers and dancing is COOL, OK
Here are our favourite group sports:
• Sepak Takraw: Volleyball but with your feet.
• Quidditch: Get your Harry Potter on :)
• Toe Wrestling: Those of you easily cringed out... beware!
• Wife Carrying: This is a niche, but we encourage borrowing one if you don't have a wife (just for the sport!)
• Extreme Ironing: This reduces stress by getting the house chores done.
• Here are 20 more
Help Others
None of these titles sounds good, do they? I mean, really! Why must I do things for others to help me feel less stressed?
Well... here's the science
Now we're not saying you should take a walk to your local zebra crossing and wait for old ladies to need your help (although we do encourage the walk).
Helping others doesn't have to feel like helping, and it doesn't have to involve moving much either.
Our top recommendation? Call a loved one that probably misses you!
Probably don't call your mum or nan if they need IT support as that will do the opposite for your stress levels but call them when they've already spoken to an Apple Genius. You'll help them with their stress and mental health, and they'll help you with yours.
If you don't feel like talking about your love life or how skinny your gran thinks you're getting, we recommend going down to your local animal shelter. Spending time with animals is a scientifically proven stress reliever, and it will also massively help with the stress the animals are experiencing.
If you're feeling particularly charitable, we recommend taking one home, they're cute, and the barking isn't even that loud!
Here are some more of our favourite ways to help others in London:
We hope you're feeling slightly less stressed. We're always here to help, and our customer service team is always here to lighten the load, so don't hesitate to reach out.
Information in this publication is provided for general information only, and it does not purport to include every aspect of the topics with which it deals. You should not take it as advice. Prior to taking, or refraining from taking, any action based on the content of this publication, you should seek professional or specialist advice. Kixy LTD or its affiliates are not rendering legal, tax or other advice through the content of this publication. A similar outcome is not guaranteed. The content in the publication does not represent, warrant or guarantee, either expressly or impliedly, that it is current, accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
