I enjoyed writing this article which appeared in ‘S’, the Sunday Express Magazine and OK Magazine too – coming up with a stress-busting activity for every letter of the alphabet…from taking an Awe-Walk to doing Zentangling.
Some of my favourites are below:
A is for Awe-walk.
Research suggests that experiencing awe – feelings of humility and admiration we get when we perceive something so vast, or new, that it wows us big-time – can help promote emotional and physical wellbeing. Take an awe walk in a woodland and marvel at the tall trees around you, or at towering buildings in a city. Explore somewhere you’ve never been and search for things that make you gasp with appreciation.
B is for Blue Space
Studies have discovered that being near water (blue space), whether on a beach, by a lake, pond, canal or river, floods our brains with feel-good hormones and drains away stress, too. So hunt out a stretch of water to walk by or simply sit and soak up the atmosphere.
E is for ‘Earthing’
Lose your shoes and walk in the grass barefoot. Studies have found that ‘grounding’ or ‘earthing’ – a practice where the body has contact with the earth’s natural electric charge – can ease pain, lower stress, improve sleep and energy levels and reduce chronic inflammation in the body, a factor in many age-related diseases.
H is for Houseplants
Shop for some greenery. Being surrounded by plants in the home has plenty of health and psychological benefits including improved mood, reduced stress and even a reduction in headaches. Start with easy to grow houseplants such as an Indian rubber tree, Boston fern or Mother-in-law’s tongue.
L is for litter picking
Be an environmental hero! Find clean-up events in your area or get advice on organising your own from keepbritaintidy.com. If you live near the coast, help clear it of plastic pollution on a Beach Clean – find out more from the Marine Conservation Society (mcsuk.org) or Surfers Against Sewage (sas.org.uk). Do good – and feel good, too.
Q is for Qigong
Qigong is an ancient Chinese health practice combining gentle, fluid stretching movements with mental concentration and breathing.
A study published in the Journal of Health Psychology found that people who regularly participated in qigong sessions reported better sleep and psychological well-being. Go online to check out videos on how to start.
R is for Reading
Be a bookworm..and snuggle up in a reading nook (your favourite chair piled with cosy cushions and blankets). Yale University research found people who read regularly live longer than non-readers. And other research found just six minutes of reading lowered heart rate and muscle tension.
S is for Skygazing
Simply looking up at the sky is a quick and easy way to lift your spirits. Recent research from positive psychologist Paul Conway (succesfulhumans.org) suggests there’s a neuropsychological connection between looking up and feeling better – a physical and psychological connect that imbues an almost immediate sense of calm. Lay a blanket outside or look upwards out of a window and lose yourself in the clouds.
W is for Wood-walking
Go down to the woods today and you’ll get so many wellbeing benefits! ‘Shinrin-yoku’ or ‘forest bathing’ is a Japanese term meaning to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the forest, viewing the trees and inhaling their essential oils. Studies have found this practice can help lower stress, boost the immune system and even improve the depth and quality of sleep.
Z …is for Zentangling
This simple drawing method, uses ‘tangles’ – sequences of strokes – to create structured patterns that are mini works of art. You need just a pen or pencil and paper – and fans of the method of sketching say it helps calm anxiety and acts as a kind of mindfulness meditation. Find out more at zentangling.com.