A horrible job is good for the soul
Feeling stressed? You’re not alone... R esearch shows three-quarters of UK adults feel anxious from time to time. Discover how to relax at any time of the day with these quick fix tips from lifestyle expert Joanne Mallon
thing romantic about touring, being on the road. Dave has become an activist, an intellectual guy, he’s good at it and incredibly smart.
“But I would rather be doing Oldham on a Tuesday night.” Frank, whose real name is Christopher Collins, struggled at school, eventually getting expelled for “embezzling the school meals service”. He says: “I found out where they threw the old meal tickets and resold them.”
But the tough jobs that followed, quickly set him back on the path to A-levels, university, a masters in English Literature, then teaching.
His career in live comedy truly began in 1987, when he spent €466 of his last €506 booking a room at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Four years on, he beat Eddie Izzard and Jack Dee to The Perrier Award.
He had quit a heavy drinking habit before he embarked on this comedy career, and says: “When I was drinking I thought I needed drink to do anything.
“I remember drinking five pints before I joined a library, because I thought, I can’t just walk into a library sober, it would be terrifying. Not long after, I was playing to 3,000 people stone-cold sober.”
Besides comedy, Frank is nowadays a presenter on Sky Arts, and is proud of his Poetry Podcast. He’s great pals with broadcaster Joan Bakewell and they regularly go to the opera together. But he accepts that to many people he will always be Frank from the Midlands. He says: “I met Harriet Harman at the opera and she said, ‘Oh God, do you like opera?’. I said, ‘Harriet, you’re meant to be champion of social mobility’. Still, to a lot of people I’m just that mouthy, laddish comic.” ■ Frank’s 30 Years of Dirt show is at the Gielgud Theatre, London, from February 5-17, then on the UK tour from March 12 to June 9. For tickets, visit frankskinnerlive.com A new series of Frank Skinner’s Poetry Podcast is now available on the usual podcast platforms.
Still, to a lot of people I am just that mouthy laddish comic
FRANK SKINNER COMEDIAN
Today’s world is anything but calm. Stress bombards us every day, and if we don’t pause for peace, we risk becoming overwhelmed.
Creating a daily calm space is an essential part of self-care. Here’s how you can find it in five minutes or less.
Picture your calm
Before you can create calm in your life, you need to be able to imagine it. What does calm mean to you?
Before you get out of bed, spend a few moments thinking about what calm would look like for you today. Picture your day unfolding calmly. Once you see it, you’ll believe it, and once you believe it, you’ll create it.
Look up at the sky Survey the clouds – their shapes, colour and movement. Even the greyest days will have shade and tone.
Follow the clouds with your eyes as they drift and travel. Can you see any birds up there? Count them and observe their path as they soar through the sky. You’ll put your own challenges into perspective.
The stresses of today will eventually move on, just like the birds and clouds above.
Sit still and breathe
Breathe in. Hold it for a second or two. Now slowly breathe out. Feel calmer already? One of the best things we can do for the body and mind is to sit still and breathe.
Sit somewhere secure and comfortable. Close your eyes and breathe deeply in and out. Focusing only on your breath calms the nervous system and moves your mind from stress to relaxation.
Reopen your eyes when it feels natural to do so.
Dive into blue
Colour psychology has found that blue is the most calming colour on the spectrum, so incorporate it into your daily life as much as possible.
Lighter, softer blues tend to be the best for this, as they can also help us concentrate better. Look around your home – how much blue can you see?
Try looking out at the sky from time to time, wearing blue, painting your nails blue or putting images of water where you’ll see them regularly.
‘‘
Sniff the air to bring your sense of smell into play and be in the moment
Classical music
Listening to any kind of classical music has been found to lower blood pressure and help us feel calmer. You don’t need to have any specialist knowledge or understanding of the classics to absorb the benefits. Simply tune in to how you feel in response to the music.
Why not try a classical radio station? Or listen to something if you commute to work. You could also make plans to go to a live concert some time soon.
Mindful walking
Walking has been found to be particularly effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety when combined with meditation. A great way to do this is via a mindful walk, where you aim to engage with your senses and stay in the moment.
Take a short, mindful stroll. Look up and around and consciously notice whatever your eyes land on. Tune into your hearing and pick out the sounds all around you.
Sniff the air to bring your sense of smell into play. Be in the moment and enjoy all its wonders.
Bring nature indoors
Many studies have established the calming effects of being out in nature – but January weather can get in the way.
But just looking at photos of the natural world can reduce stress. So if your day is at home or in the office, bring nature indoors. Choose a beautiful screensaver, or listen to a recording of the rhythmic sound of rain or wind.
First-aid calm kit
When we get stressed, it’s easy to lose perspective and forget the things that can restore our calm. So take time to gather together your emergency calm accessories.
Include anything that restores your spirits – perhaps your favourite caffeine-free tea blend, a wise book you love, a puzzle or a relaxing scented candle.
Think of it like a first-aid kit for your mind – better to have one and not need it than to need one and not have it. Gather the materials and put them somewhere easily accessible, like a bag or backpack.
■■ Extracted from How To Find Calm In Five Minutes A Day by Joanne Mallon