Discover relaxing methods to help you de-stress this month

April is Stress Awareness Month. In today’s busy society, in one way or another, we are likely to be experiencing stress. Whether it’s the recent rise in energy bills or your job role, there is likely a level of stress you may encounter.

However, the good news is that there are several techniques that when implemented, can help you to lower your stress levels. High levels of stress can lead to long term health issues such as high blood pressure and even increase your chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

To help lower your stress levels and hopefully prevent any unnecessary lead up to long term health conditions, here are a few techniques to relax your body and mind for stress awareness month and beyond.

Download a mediation app
Over the past few years, there has been a rise in meditation apps to help people destress. These types of apps specialise in audio meditations and have a variety of themes for you to select to help you destress in the area you are worried about.

Calm is a popular app for this and there are also apps related to faith such as Abide . The tone of voice used on these meditation apps is soothing and calming, with the intention to help you decompress.

Massage therapy
Having a physical therapy for your body can also help you to destress. Visiting a professional massagist could help to loosen the tension in your muscles that your body has built up from stress.

Talking therapy
Sometimes talking about your problems can help to alleviate your stress levels, too. Whilst speaking to friends and family can sometimes help, it may not always be the solution you need.

In these situations, speaking to a professional therapist can help equip you with the tools you need to navigate the stress you are experiencing in your life.

The NHS has a talking therapy service available for free. Alternatively, there is currently an increase in online therapy paid subscription services that have professional therapists who are trained to help you through stressful seasons.

Get enough hours of sleep
A lack of sleep can contribute to increased stress. We all know that when you don’t get enough sleep, you're more likely to feel tired the next day and sometimes the simplest things can seem more stressful when you are tired, due to your lack of energy.

A great way to prevent this is to make sure you are getting enough hours of sleep each night. According to Mayo Clinic, adults should get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep per night.

Create a night-time routine
A night-time routine can be a great way for you to offload all the stress you experience during the day and transition you into having a good night's sleep.

Some ideas for a night-time routine include doing activities that mean your mind can simply relax, such as refraining from any screen time for at least 30 mins before you sleep, having a bath or even reading a relaxing book that does not require you to think too much.

Connect with nature
Nature has so much beauty to offer the world. You may be surprised at how a simple walk in the park or your local neighbourhood can give you the fresh air you need, as well as the opportunity to get your steps in and stay active!

To start, if you want more of an incentive to go for a walk, apps like sweatcoin convert your steps into coins that can earn you rewards. Beyond these rewards though, nature alone can provide you with the relaxation you've been craving for.

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