Five Ways to Reduce Stress

Stress makes us anxious and irritable. The pandemic and lockdowns are likely to increase stress as we battle with work, children and partners. But there are some simple ways to reduce stress that can really help.

Here are five ways to reduce stress:

1. Go out. Even during lockdowns we can usually go out for some time. If someone else can look after the children, it's sometimes better just to walk or run on your own. Getting out in the fresh air helps to reduce stress, even when it's wet or cold. If you need to take the children, go somewhere that they'll enjoy, such as the local park, so that they can run and play and you can free your mind a bit.

2. Exercise. No need to do any particular exercises. Just put on your favourite music and dance. Who cares how mad you look? Dance, move, jump, leap. Look for your toes; reach them. Dance!

3. Try not to listen to, or watch the news. Good news is not commercial. They only sell bad news!

4. Feeling trapped, angry or unable to get on with life? Forget those thoughts and try, instead, to think of three ways in which you could help somebody outside your family. When we think of others, we think less about ourselves and our problems.

5. Plan how to reduce stressors. Take time to work out what one change would make things better. How could you achieve it?

Life without stress would be boring, but finding out how to reduce stress when it has become too much is empowering.