8 stress-relieving tips to try every day

Is stress always a bad thing?

Not necessarily, says Dr Chi-Chi Obuaya, Consultant Psychiatrist, at Nightingale Hospital. He explains that stress can be useful in a sporting context, or even in the workplace. Short-term stress may also improve your performance.

However, he warns that if stress is excessive or continuous, it can have a negative impact on your mental health.

Stress affects millions of people every year. While stress in itself is not a mental health issue, it is linked to health issues such as anxiety and depression, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts.

Long-term (chronic) stress can also have an impact on your physical health - affecting blood pressure, digestion, and even causing fertility issues in some cases.

How to reduce stress

Here are eight simple habits to help alleviate stress and restore everyday calm.

1. Take a mindful pause

Mindfulness - the art of focusing your mind on the present moment is widely acknowledged as an excellent way to reduce stress. And you don't need to spend hours at a class in order to practice.

Vari McLuskie, mindfulness and meditation trainer, recommends taking a mindful pause during your day.

"Stop and breathe three times to become fully present," she says. "Let go of your thinking, anxieties, and plans and just focus fully on the breath. This will give you a short break from the busyness of your own mind and your day."

2. Visualise the positive

When we're stressed, most of us tend to picture the worst-case scenario, which can worsen our negative feelings.

Psychologist and clinical hypnotherapist Geraldine Joaquim, Quest Hypnotherapy, explains that we are predisposed to overthink negatively - it's part of our brain's survival system.

"This negative speculation causes us to release stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, to get us ready to run or fight," she says.

To counter this, Joaquim suggests visualising positive outcomes.

"By doing this we can change the chemical response, releasing hormones such as serotonin and dopamine," she explains. "This keeps us on an even keel and help to cap the levels of cortisol. So when we do hit a moment of stress we are in a better place to cope with it."

3. Don't reach for convenience foods

When we're stressed, it's tempting to reach for stimulation in the form of sugar. Sweets, chocolate, crisps, and other convenience foods may offer a short-term energy burst, but long-term can be damaging to our health and even increase stress levels.

According to registered dietitian Laura Clark, poor food choices may lead to energy slumps, and make you feel irritable and strung out.

"To regulate your blood sugar (glucose) levels, aim for balance in your meals," she says. "This means including some wholegrain carbohydrates such as brown rice noodles or wholemeal pitta, with some lean protein such as chicken, fish, or pulses."

As well as preventing the highs and lows that come with a glucose hit, eating a balanced diet can help us to feel better in the long term.

"Balanced eating also encourages the body's uptake of amino acid tryptophan - needed for serotonin production," adds Clark. "This can counteract the effect of raised cortisol levels in your body, which happen when you're under pressure."

4. Move your body

Taking a break from your desk to go for a walk, or incorporating more activity into your evening, could have a calming effect on both your mind and body. And you can incorporate exercise into your daily life. Whilst you might not have an hour to spend at the gym, most of us have the time for a short walk during the day.

Obuaya says: "Exercise is a very good coping mechanism - it gets dopamine flowing in your brain and has calming effects."

5. Release the pressure

6. Repeat a positive mantra

When you're feeling negative or stressed, repeating a positive phrase could work wonders.

Joaquim explains that Positive Affirmations were developed in the 1970s by neuroscientists. They incorporate a modern understanding of psychotherapy and linguistics to consciously rewire thought patterns towards more desired outcomes.

"It's a way of starting your day on a positive note, with a calm and positive energy, and using them if feeling under pressure during the day to induce equilibrium," she adds.

7. Try essential oils

Certain essential oils can have a calming effect and even create a relaxing atmosphere in your home or office.

Aromatherapist Lisa Basso recommends lavender, clary sage, or camomile oil for stress.

"Make sure you choose essential oils rather than a simple fragrance," she advises.

Basso adds that using oils needn't take up too much time.

"Simply heat 4-6 drops of your chosen oil in a diffuser, or even put them on to a nearby radiator," she suggests. "However, if you're pregnant, always consult a healthcare professional before using essential oils."

8. Create a pre-bed routine

If you feel under pressure, your sleep can be disrupted, and working long into the night may be counterproductive.

Joaquim explains that during the night our brain goes through essential 'download' processing, moving events into your long-term memory banks, and also carrying out necessary waste clearance.

"Lack of sleep - less than five hours per night - has been linked to Alzheimer's disease," she cautions. "Long-term poor sleep has been linked to cognitive decline."

Whilst too much stress can be harmful, learning how to remain calm could help you to keep cool and remain healthy.