International Stress Awareness Week 2nd- 6th November 2020
International Stress Awareness Week is celebrated in the first week of November. It is an awareness event that aims to shine a light on stress and mental health problems and to raise awareness. COVID-19 pandemic has brought uncertainty and challenges into our lives that we have never faced before. As a result, many of us would have experienced increases in levels of stress, which given the circumstances, is completely natural.
What is stress?
Stress is the body’s reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure. It’s very common, can be motivating to help us achieve things in our daily life, and can help us meet the demands of home, work, and family life.
The physical and mental health impact of the coronavirus outbreak is still very much present in our daily lives. Here, we have listed a few suggestions on how to reduce any unwanted stress during these challenging times.
- Get moving: Physical exercise can help relieve tension and relax your mind. Engaging in physical activity every day—whether it’s a socially distanced walk or an online fitness class at home—will benefit your mind as well as your body.
- Stay connected: We all enjoy the feeling of being connected with our loved ones. If possible, catching up with a friend or family member at a safe distance and discussing your feelings can ease your mind. Make sure that you keep up to date with the latest government guidelines in your area. If meeting in person is not possible, you can stay in touch by phone, video calls or social media.
- Be kind to others: Supporting and helping others allows us to take a break from our hectic schedules. This can help us gain some perspective and better equip us to handle stressful situations. Also, carrying out acts of kindness will boost endorphins, resulting in you receiving a ‘helpers high’ – the uplifting feeling you feel after helping someone.
- Self-care: When we feel stressed, the things that bring us happiness often get side-lined. Make sure that you schedule some time for you to relax and partake in your favourite hobbies, for instance, reading a good book, a countryside walk or an online pub quiz with your friends. As a result, if you feel stressed or overwhelmed, you have something to look forward to and help you shift to a more positive mindset.
- Relax your mind: Mindfulness practises and breathing techniques can help you stop worrying about the future and allow you to focus on the present. There are a variety of wellbeing apps, online videos, and tutorials that can help you deal with difficult emotions and relax your mind.
Here are some tips on how to reduce stress during the day
- 10 ways to reduce stress infographic
- Managing stress during covid
- How to support your mental health during covid
Please note this is a work in progress – more information and resources will be added very soon!
