Continuing worries about covid, cost of living crisis, war in Ukraine – Stress Awareness Month seems to be a little redundant in 2022. None of us can fail to be aware of the strain people are under these days.
With that in mind, it has never been more important to take care of yourself. Here are our top five ways to make sure you can deal with the stress in your life as effectively as possible.
Sleep: It might sound trite but if you are tired everything seem much worse. Getting a good night’s sleep when you are stressed can be difficult but to combat the tossing and turning Sleep.org suggests:
- Use relaxation techniques
- Manage screen time wisely
- Drink a warm glass of milk
- Avoid heavy meals before bed
- Take a hot shower
- Exercise regularly
- Use aromatherapy
- Write down your thoughts in a journal
Don’t take on too much: Easier said than done! But prioritising what is essential when under pressure. What you don’t do can be as important as what you do. Practise saying no to things and schedule in some downtime to rest, recuperate and recharge. Striking the balance between responsibility to others and responsibility to yourself can be mindset change that will make this easier to do. Are there things at work or at home that could be handed over to other people?
Stay fit: It is well known that healthy body is a big bonus for a healthy mind. When you are stressed, going to the gym is probably the last thing you want to do. In fact, you are more likely to decide that lying down in a darkened room is way more preferable that doing an exercise class but lace up those trainers and release some stress-busting endorphins. For the over 50s in Warrington, WHA’s LifeTime offers yoga and pilates classes. Or just go for a brisk walk outside. It is free and you can grab some fresh air and Vitamin D if the sun plays ball.
Face up to fears: Don’t avoid something that is worrying you, hiding from difficult situations won’t make them go away. Your brain will expend an enormous amount of energy trying to ignore them. Hard as it might be, talking about it and then dealing with it will better for your stress levels in the end. Mental health charity Mind provides the Side-by-Side online community where you can access online peer support and speak virtually with others going through similar experiences to you.
Keep control of your finances: Rising inflation and tax increases are set to leave millions worse off this year. Being realistic about your finances and setting a budget accordingly will go a long way to alleviating stress in this area but with such steep rises even this sensible step may not be enough to navigate the cost-of-living crisis. Debt charity StepChange offers a six-step guide to help you find relief from debt stress.
If you are struggling and need to talk about ways to maintain your WHA tenancy, contact our friendly customer service advisors on 01925 246810 or if other money issues are the problem, our money advice officer is here to help
