EVEN TIDYING THE HOUSE CAN HELP

PRACTISE YOGA

STUDIES show yoga lowers the stress hormone cortisol and helps ease depression, anxiety and create an overall sense of wellbeing. Experiment with different teachers and different types of yoga to find a class that suits your personality and your desired level of exercise and mental relaxation. Some classic yoga postures which are effective for stress relief include child’s pose, spinal twists, gentle hip openers, cat/cow pose, legs-up-thewall and corpse pose.

LISTEN TO MUSIC

ONE of the best ways to unwind, listening to music helps combat stress and lower cortisol levels. One recent study found that individuals who listened to

music had lower blood pressure and experienced less stress than people with a great diet and who took regular exercise. Try to fill your day with music as much as possible, and use it at night to relax before sleep.

TIDYING UP

WHEN your surroundings are chaotic it’s very easy to become distracted, stressed and anxious, even if you don’t realise it, and then focusing can be more difficult. But a clean, orderly space creates a sense of calm, making it easier to focus. By getting rid of clutter in your living room, for instance, you find you have room for an exercise bike, a yoga mat or a set of dumbbells to make regular exercise easier to sustain.

SHARE A HUG

CLOSE contact with friends and loved ones naturally helps reduce stress levels. Studies have found that oxytocin, a hormone associated with decreased stress response, is released when you are being hugged, or when someone holds your hand.

FIND YOUR IKIGAI

THE Japanese concept of ‘having a purpose’ has been shown to lead to a longer, healthier life as well as reduced disability and mortality. Studies show keeping a strong sense of purpose after retirement and into old age protects both your mental and physical health. So consider volunteering or engaging in community service of some sort.