Four ways you can #ActNow this Stress Awareness Month

While it might not be nice to think about the things we feel stressed about, understanding the impact of stress on our health and working toward reducing our stress is important.  

In previous years, Stress Awareness Month has focused on sharing information about stress and reducing the stigma around starting conversations. This year, the aim is to help people to #ActNow. 

It’s only when we start taking action that our lives can change, so here are four things you can do this month to reduce your stress and improve your life:  

Take Part in the 30-Day Challenge 

The team at the Stress Management Society have put together a 30-day challenge which gives you a helping hand at improving your physical, emotional and mental stress levels throughout the month of April.  

The challenges are small and manageable, and include tasks like going for a walk, planning healthy meals, and learning meditation and breathing techniques. It may sound simple, but taking small steps can make a huge difference to your health. 

You can download the 30-Day Challenge here.

Talk to Someone 

Whether friend, family or professional, talking to someone about your worries and stresses can have a huge impact. Keeping feelings bottled up is never helpful and often only makes things worse.  

If the idea of opening up to someone makes you feel anxious, try writing down your thoughts and feelings first and go from there. 

If you think you need to talk to a professional, there are plenty of helplines available: 

• Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - call 116 123
• National Suicide Prevention Helpline UK are available from 6pm - 3:30am every day - call 0800 689 5652
• Text SHOUT to 85258 for 24/7 support if you don't feel comfortable speaking on the phone
• The Mix supports those under 25 from 3pm - 12am every day - call 0808 808 4994
• Switchboard support the LGBT+ community from 10am - 10pm every day - call 0300 330 0630

Create a Plan for Your Future 

A main cause of stress can be not knowing what the future holds – especially in terms of employment and financial security. If you need support in laying down the plans for your career path, we can help with that.  

Our careers coaches are experts when it comes to helping people of all ages and experiences find their feet. From creating an action plan with step-by-step tasks to enrolling you on workshops to support your interview skills and improve your CV, support is just around the corner.  

If you’re feeling stressed about your future, say hello to us today. 

Find Helpful Resources Online 

No matter what you’re struggling with, it might be helpful to think about how you’re not alone. Thousands of people deal with stress every day, and many of them have shared their experiences and created helpful resources to help others in similar situations.  

Website such as YouTube are filled with free videos that cover a whole range of topics and can teach you some of the science behind why you’re feeling stressed and what you can do to improve your stress levels.  

If you’re a young person who is feeling stressed about leaving school or deciding your next steps, we have a whole YouTube channel filled with resources to help you understand your options and make the choice that’s right for you.  

Whatever you're struggling with, remember that you're not alone and support is available.