Stress Awareness Month is held every April to increase awareness around stress. With everything that is going on in the world, it’s fair to say that we may well be feeling extra stressed at the moment. With many of us at home for the foreseeable future, we thought it’d be great to put together some suggestions for reducing stress at home and making the best of our new lifestyles…

We all have crazy lives, with work, children, pets, hobbies and household jobs, but without a little time to yourself, burn out is normally on the horizon. We owe it to ourselves to make room for ‘me time’, as it can make yourself and those around you even happier as a result. Here are some suggestions for some ‘me time’ activities:

• Go technology free for an hour, turning off your phone means that you won’t have notifications constantly pinging at you!
• Take some time for deep breathing, mindfulness and meditation
• Run yourself a long hot bubble bath – utter bliss!

Be active!

There’s a lot to be said for being active and helping stress. When there is a lot going on, exercise can help to distance yourself for a few moments. Whether that’s a quick brisk walk, or some light yoga or following some YouTube exercise videos. Joe Wicks’ PE workout videos are a great source of cardio and is great fun for kids and adults alike.

Connect with loved ones

Lots of us are turning to technology to connect with loved ones in this tricky time. Take time to catch up with a friend via FaceTime, Google Hangouts, Skype, WhatsApp or through a fun Zoom quiz. You can even arrange a virtual cocktail evening or wine tasting with friends. Once you adapt, you’ll find it just as fun. Plus no one has to worry about being the designated driver, as you’re already safely at home!

Make time for fun

Laughter carries so many health benefits with it, so the more laughter you have in your life the better it is for your health. Here are a couple of fun ideas for you to try:

• Many have turned to TikTok to learn silly dance moves with their children – why not give it a go? 
• Host a virtual fondue or pizza making night
• Indulge in virtual karaoke 
• Dig out the board games!
• Play in the garden or your home with your pets and loved ones. A game of frisby, building an indoor fort or obstacle course are all laughter inducing.

We’ve recently put together a great guide for virtual tours, which can also help you to switch off and travel virtually for an hour or two, check out the blog post here.