Seven ways to ditch stress an
Feeling overwhelmed and worried could well have a serious impact on your health. HANNAH BRITT looks at ways to cope
FEELING a little stressed out lately? Well you’re not alone. According to recent studies, a whopping 85 per cent of British adults experience stress regularly, with over half of these worrying about the impact it has on their health.
And it seems they may be right to be concerned. According to Laura Little of wellbeing charity CABA, “Stress causes our adrenal glands to produce more of the hormone cortisol – and too much of it in our system puts us at an increased risk of weakened cognitive performance, heart disease and high blood pressure.” Further research by the University of Michigan has shown that being stressed can cause physical problems including asthma and irritable bowel syndrome.
So how can we take steps to reduce the stress in our lives? We asked leading health experts, life coaches and psychologists what we can do to help our minds and bodies chill out and focus on what’s truly important. According to Gabrielle Treanor, online life coach at gabrielletreanor. com, writing a to-do list can help you feel organised and in control of your life and has the added benefit of giving you a feelgood hit as you cross items off. However she cautions against writing down everything you need to do.
“Too long a list just adds to your stress,” she says. “So go through your list and circle only the items that are both important and urgent as they’re the priorities.
“Choose only three of these important and urgent to-dos each day so you have a greater chance of working through them.” Stress and insomnia have a mutually-destructive relationship, with each adding to the other. Making sure you manage as close to a relaxing and restorative eight hours a night as possible can do wonders for reducing tension and increasing productivity.
Sleep psychologist Hope Bastine says: “A comfortable bed and the right supporting pillow are by far the most important items to challenge the sleep thief.”
The National Sleep Foundation recommends keeping your head in “neutral alignment” – the way you would when standing up with good posture. A 2009 study in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine found that new, medium-firm beds increased sleep quality, reduced back discomfort and moderated stressrelated symptoms that interfere with restful sleep. TAKE A LUNCH BREAK – AND SWAP THAT COFFEE FOR TEA The pressure to simply grab a sandwich and keep working can be overwhelming but consultant psychiatrist Dr Dimitrios Paschos of Re:Cognition Health, says it’s important to allow ourselves a proper lunch break. “Mental performance drops if we don’t take breaks,” he says. “Decision-making becomes slower, attention levels wane and thinking can become more rigid. Taking a break can help clear the mind and provide clarity.” Scientists from City University of London have also found that swapping coffee for tea can reduce stress levels. As well as the soothing qualities of the tea itself, the act of putting the kettle on also helped people to relax.