National Stress Awareness Day occurs every first Wednesday in November and is dedicated to helping people take time out of their day to recognise, manage and reduce stress in both personal and professional lives.
It takes place on a Wednesday as it is typically the most exhausting day of the week and gives us a reminder take a deep breath and embrace peace.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of everyday life that we often forget or are unaware how much stress we are under. So, why not partake in a relaxing activity this stress awareness day (or every day!) and see how it benefits you?
We’ve created a list of activities you can try in to reduce your stress levels:
- Meditation – during meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. Even if it’s just for 10 minutes, it is guaranteed to have a positive impact on your day. We recommend downloading the free ‘Headspace’ app if you are new to it, and meditate wherever you feel most comfortable.
- Yoga – studies have shown that yoga can reduce stress and improve your mood and overall sense of well-being. There are some great park yoga groups in Somerset that you can join, and many tutorials to follow on YouTube if you would like to practice at home.
- Walking – promotes the release endorphins that stimulate relaxation and improve our mood. Walking does not have to be done at a fast pace to have stress-relieving benefits. There are many different walks featured on our website if you wanted to explore a new place during your walk.
- Spend time with friends and family – one study found that spending time with friends and children helps release oxytocin, a natural stress reliever. It’s easy to forget how catching up with friends and family can improve our mood – we recommend reaching out to someone today, whether it’s just a phone call or an afternoon stroll, it’s important to have others to chat to!
- Participate in a beach or park clean-up day – get some fresh air and do something nice for your community, a rewarding activity like this will help fill your day with good feelings and reduce anxiety.
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