Stress Awareness

Stress Awareness Month

Everybody experiences stress at some point in their lives. If you know someone who has never been stressed they’re either lying or very lucky. April marks Stress Awareness Month and has been this way since 1992 so I thought I would write about how we can prevent stress and relax more.

What Is Stress?

Stress is a reaction your body gives when it feels threatened, under pressure or senses danger. Your body basically goes into fight or flight mode and doesn’t know what to do with itself. Stress can feel like a panic attack, it can make you ache, cry, the list of side effects is endless.Stress can even be caused by a situation that isn’t there or hasn’t happened yet, for example being worried about something, the fear of the unknown.

There are so many causes of stress, work related, financial situations, moving house or health issues like depression and anxiety.

Here are some of the ways I relax and combat the stress in my daily life.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a form of holistic therapy that uses plant materials and essential oils designed to help you feel more grounded and balanced both emotionally and physically. Aromatherapy can be expensive but there are plenty of ways you can experience it at home and when you’re trying to de-stress being surrounded by your home comforts can make it so much easier.

I would recommend lighting a candle, running a bath and relax your mind and body with support from Aromatherapy Associates. Focusing on enhancing their customers wellbeing, it’s more than bust a business. With over 30 years knowledge of aromatherapy they bring us award winning skincare stimulating all of our senses. Smell is a huge part of aromatherapy, it’s one of our more primitive senses and is linked to one of the oldest parts of the brain. So lay back take a deep breath and watch the stress wash away.

My personal favourites are Aromatherapy Associates Relax Candle, infused with West Indian bay and myrrh essential oils. Elegantly designed and beautifully embellished, this candle will create the perfect relaxing ambiance in any room. Aromatherapy Associates Perfect Partners Bath And Shower Oil, perfect for any occasion. Whether you’ve had a hard day and need a full evenings pamper with a hot bath, or your pushed for time and just need a minute to calm down, simply rub a few drops onto your torso before showering or add to the hot water and soak it all in.

Sleep

Sleep is so important to our bodies, without it our brains don’t function. Unfortunately, stress can be a major implication when it comes to getting a good night sleep. It's a vicious cycle, lack of sleep leads to feeling stressed because our bodies are feeling blurred, stress then causes us to worry and become overtired meaning we spend all night tossing and turning. I’ve listed my step by step routine to ensure I have a good night sleep.

Magnesium can help with sleep and restless leg syndrome. Magnesium increases GABA levels, this encourages relaxation which helps you fall asleep. I take Wild Nurtition’s Magnesium tablet once at night time to help me drift off. It can be taken with or without food but you should definitely give them a go!

You want to avoid sugary or caffeinated drinks before bed time. They say having a cup of coffee after 10 a.m may still affect your sleep pattern. Herbal tea is a great choice. There are so many natural and sustainable types of tea that can improve so much, from digestion to anxiety and even sleep. Personally before bed I enjoy Niche Tea Sleep. Formulated with Rooibos which is rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly Magnesium, Lemon Balm for its anti-stress, nerve relaxant properties, Camomile to soothe and relax, Passionflower to calm mental restlessness, Rose Petals which are a mild sedative, Lavender and Vanilla Flavour.

Next light a candle. There's something very therapeutic about a candle. The flame a candle shows is said to help us to achieve a meditative state. Compagnie De Provence Incense Lavender is my go to. Made from 100% vegetable wax, Enjoy notes of woody lavender that are magnified by the ambery scent of Incense.

Staring at a screen before bed can sabotage your good night's sleep. This is because it keeps your brain active and stimulated rather than letting wind down at the end of the day. Every screen you look at whether it be a computer or a phone emits an LED light that has a blue tone to it. This can trick your body and mind into thinking it’s not time to rest. It is recommended that you turn off or don’t look at your devices up to 2 hours before you aim to go to bed.

There is a lot of speculation around how much sleep a person should have. For an average adult it is advised between 7-9 hours sleep every night. It varies from person to person but I always go for a happy medium and aim for 8 hours sleep. Too much sleep can be just as bad for you as not enough. Too much sleep can increase health risks from diabetes to heart disease, not to mention leaving you feeling groggy when you eventually wake up the next day.

Make sure you’re bedroom is a cooler temperature, it is advised to have your bedroom between 18-21 degrees celsius. Having a cooler temperature in your bedroom helps your body to maintain a consistent temperature which will help you to avoid night sweats that can ultimately lead to insomnia.

Pillow Spray is a great fix for those of us who struggle to drift off at night. Going back to how important it is to breathe deeply and inhale essential oils when trying to relax, most people in their busy lives won’t have time to sit in a hot bath and take it all in. This Works Sleep Plus Pillow Spray is a natural remedy to help restore your sleeping pattern. All you need to do is shake the bottle and spray onto your pillow before you go to sleep. This encapsulated blend of their award winning Deep Sleep fragrance, including lavender, vetivert and camomile, is released continuously over the course of eight hours, thanks to motion activated technology, to support a longer less interrupted sleep. This works offer an entire sleep range, including a pillow spray for babies.

I hope this routine works for you too! All products can be purchased Here.