Did you know that 84% of the world are stressed out, are you part of that statistic?

Life moves so quickly and a lot of us feel like we are on the groundhog day wheel. As we enter into a new week I would like to take the opportunity to give you some ways to de-stress instantly.

1.        Take a walk – your brain will release endorphins and will subdue anxiety allow energy levels to increase and mood improve

2.        Take a deep breath – it will help increase the flow of oxygen. Breathe in slowly through your nose, allowing your lungs to fill up completely, then      slowly breath out. Do this 5-10 for you feel a lot calmer

3.        Meditation is something people are now turning too (instead of a few years ago when it was “woo woo”. There are lots of different apps you  can download or use your music platform which will have plenty of  choice. My favourite meditation music at the moment is Theta Waves

4.        Make a Success List – so many of us have a to do list, a success list focuses    on a small number of tasks, the important ones, so the list will be shorter,  that once completed will allow you to feel you are moving forward.

5.        As human beings we are social creatures so catching up with a friend can    help de-stress a situation, especially when see with “a new pair of eyes”. Also researchers have found that having such interactions can release oxytocin, a hormone that decreases stress and helps form bonds between individuals.

6.        Furry friends are known stress reducers. I love taking 5 mins with my black Labrador to lie beside him, he’s so placid it has an effect on me as  well.

7.        One of my favourite past times is listening music, it puts me in my happy place so I believe we should bring it into all areas of our lives, including our work environment.  It has been noted that those who listen to music  on the job work more efficiently and have a creativity boost.

8.        Are you a reader? I used to love getting lost in fictional books but now I find nothing more therapeutic than find a good self development book  and hide away for 20 mins. Research has found that reading for just 6 mins can decrease muscle tension and heart rate.

9.        It’s time to start skipping the coffee and make a cup of tea instead, or a fizz stick (my personal favourite). Coffee has a greater amount of caffeine  than tea and fizzies and can lead to more anxiety if already stressed.

10      Put your mental health first and listen to what you need – this is vital! By listening to what you need during stressful times, you may realise that some of the strategies above will work for you -- other times, they may  not. That's why it's essential to put yourself first and do whatever's necessary in order to improve your mental health.