How to keep stress at bay to help maintain your wellbeing | Tenant news

With April bringing a focus on stress awareness this is a great opportunity to explore ways to support your overall wellbeing.

Stress is a natural part of life, but when it builds up, it can affect both your mental and physical health. Recognising the signs and taking proactive steps can help you feel more in control and better manage daily stress.

Prioritise self-care

Taking time for yourself is not selfish; it’s essential for wellbeing. Start by setting aside small daily moments to relax, whether it’s enjoying a hot cup of tea, reading a book, or listening to your favourite music.

Simple activities such as a morning stretch, journaling your thoughts, or spending time outside can provide mental clarity and calm.

Sleep is another key factor in managing stress. Try to create a relaxing evening routine by limiting screen time and bright lights before bed and aim for consistent bedtimes..

Quality sleep allows your body and mind to recover and recharge, making it easier to handle the pressures of each day.

The NHS sleep guide also has useful tips on improving sleep and looking after your mental health.

Move your body

Being active is a great way to manage stress and lift your mood, but you don’t need a gym membership to benefit.

Exercises like cycling or a home workout can boost mood-enhancing chemicals in the brain.

If you‘re a wheelchair user or have limited mobility, chair-based exercises, gentle stretches, or short home workouts can provide the same benefits.

You can find helpful guidance from the NHS for staying active in a wheelchair on the NHS website.

Even with a busy schedule, brief bursts of movement, such as a 10-minute walk or stretches between tasks, can help you stay active and reduce stress throughout the day.

Remember to connect

Social support is also vital in managing stress. Maintaining relationships with friends, family, or housemates provides opportunities to share feelings, receive encouragement, and gain perspective. Even a quick chat or a video call can help you feel less isolated.

Joining local clubs, online communities, or volunteer groups can also help you meet like-minded people, giving your social activities purpose while reducing stress.

Create a calm space

Your surroundings can also have a big impact on how stressed you feel.

Keeping your living space tidy, organised, and pleasant, letting in natural light and fresh air, and adding small touches like plants or personal mementos can all improve your mood.

Minimising noise and creating a calm corner in your home for relaxation or hobbies can make daily stress easier to manage too.

Practice mindfulness

It’s also important to take care of your mind as well as your physical space. Mindfulness techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or guided imagery can help soothe your mind and reduce anxiety.

You don’t need to dedicate hours to your practice; even a few minutes of focused breathing can make a noticeable difference.

You could also try applications like Headspace or Calm. They offer guided meditation sessions that are beginner-friendly and easy to follow. The BBC Sounds app has a wide variety of calming sound tracks available for free to license payers. You can log in and search ‘relaxation’ at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds for a whole library including music playlists and sounds from the natural world.

Further support

• Mind – www.mind.org.uk
• Samaritans – www.samaritans.org
• Anxiety UK – www.anxietyuk.org.uk
• CALM (support for men’s mental health) – www.thecalmzone.net.

 

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