1. De-clutter. Just as a cluttered mind can be stressful, so can a cluttered environment. Getting organised and clearing up clutter helps at every level.
2. Bring more light into your environment. Do you live and work in dim light, under fluorescent lighting, surrounded by busy wallpaper or without a window or a view? See if you can brighten things up with a lick of bright or light paint. Sunlight in particular affects our mood and some people become depressed or listless when the days shorten in winter.
3. Enjoy a nurturing massage. A 20 minute massage, once a week, would help immensely in reducing levels of stress within the body, particularly with Acupressure Massage which opens up any trapped lines of energy within the body which may have been causing physical symptoms off illness. A lot of people will shy away from experiencing a massage treatment fearing that they have to remove clothing and have oil applied to the skin, but this is not the case with Seated Acupressure, this is a gentle non-intrusive massage that is applied whilst clothed and with the use of no oil. You should try it, go on, I dare you!
4. Get into the countryside or go dew walking. If you live in a town or city, it is easy to forget just how important the calming, regenerative atmosphere of more natural surroundings can be. Free time spent walking in woods, by the coast or even in a town/city park is time well spent. Also, if you have access to a garden or anywhere with a patch of grass, try taking off your shoes and socks and walking barefoot on the grass in the early morning or evening. The feel of the cool dew and wet grass on your bare feet is an enlivening experience. It may sound silly, but try it - you'll be surprised how relaxing and enjoyable it is. Yes, I AM that strange lone woman walking on the grass barefoot, holding socks and boots in hand, in the park(!) It is quite amusing when someone recognises you and asks what on earth you are doing and they stare back at you like you are mad when you explain(!)
5. Stroke an animal. Anyone with a pet will tell you what a rewarding experience it is to interact with an animal. Stroking a dog, cat, horse or any other animal stimulates all your senses, while the unconditional love of a pet, and the affection and responsibility you return to it, make good 'soul food'. Animals can be excellent therapists and many people feel much better after a chat with their dog or cat. Our cat, Snowflake, waits until you are sat comfortably on the sofa and then jumps up onto your lap to curl up and sleep and would stay there forever if you let him, purring contentedly(!)
6. Listen to music. Again, this might seem obvious, but the calming effects of music are underestimated. The right sort of music can help you to contemplate, relax and take your mind off other things. When I treat a client to a Seated Acupressure massage treatment, I like to have some form of background music playing, but it isn't a necessity; some people prefer complete silence.
Well, there you have it, 6 ways to de-stress, I hope it has been informative and refreshing for you. xxx