Our top stress-busting tips this Stress Awareness Month

For people of all walks of life, stress can be an issue every day. From contributing to mental health issues to affecting your physical health, prolonged stress or stressful situations aren’t good for anyone. This is doubly so for those with mobility issues or a disability, where simply getting through everyday life itself can be stressful.

With April being Stress Awareness Month, there’s never been a better time to look at ways to bust that stress out of your life. Here are our top stress-busting tips to help you deal with the bad stuff and enjoy the good stuff at the same time:

Don’t be afraid to take time out

When you’re right in the middle of a stressful situation or problem, it can be the only thing you think about. But for many people, fixating on the problem isn’t a healthy way to live your life. That’s why one of our top tips is to take a step back and try and get some time away from that stress.

While this isn’t possible for every situation if you’re able to get some perspective or simply take a break from stress, it can be a massive benefit to you. We don’t expect our smartphones to run on the same battery charge forever, so why do we expect ourselves to be able to keep going without ever taking time to recharge?

Taking a break doesn’t have to be expensive or extravagant. Maybe it’s cancelling your plans for the day for a bit of self-care, or using mindfulness to distance yourself from that stress mentally. Whatever your methods, taking time out is the best way to reduce your stress – especially with long-term circumstances.

Time for yourself is something many people under-value, but consciously making an effort to take time away from a situation can help you to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Take small steps towards living better

We all know that a better diet and healthier lifestyle is better for us overall. But for those with mobility issues, it simply isn’t that easy. Taking small, manageable steps that work towards reducing your stress is the ideal way forward. Think about what makes you feel good – maybe it’s listening to music, cooking something healthy or going for a walk or wheel outside. Work those small steps into your day, and your stress will start to fall slowly but surely.

It’s tempting to make sweeping gestures and big statements, especially when you’re stressed. All the emotion and anxious thinking want to come out somewhere. But if you want your routine to stick, and your stress to be lower in the long-term, then a small step each day towards better habits and more positive behaviours is the way to go.

Some fresh air, gentle exercise, reading a book, or simply keeping your surroundings tidy are fantastic places to start – and future you will thank you for the lower blood pressure in the long-run.

Accept your limitations and don’t get frustrated about what you can’t do

Whether you have mobility issues yourself or have a loved one that has a disability, you likely know the frustration of not being able to do something all too well. A significant source of stress can be wanting to push those hard limits and not being able to.

Reducing stress for those that are stressed about their limitations is easier than you might think. If you accept that you have limitations, it’s not a failure. Minimising stress can sometimes be just as much what’s in our heads as what’s in the wider world – and we’re our own worst critics.

Think about a stressful circumstance or frustrating issue differently, and you might be able to come up with a different solution. Butting your head up against a brick wall is something we all do – and not being able to do what you want can be stressful at the best of times. But, re-framing your limits in your mind, and accepting that you may need help, can be a fantastic way to reduce all the negative emotions surrounding those stressors.

Whether you’re experiencing a highly stressful short-term situation or long-term stress in your life is making your day-to-day difficult, the first thing to do is focus on yourself. It’s not selfish to put yourself first when you’re stressed – especially when you consider all the adverse health problems that being stressed can cause.

With it being Stress Awareness Month, there’s never been a better time to think about reducing the stress in your life – and the lives of your loved ones.