It turns out that hugging is not only great for building relationships with those you trust, it can also help lower blood pressure and reduce stress. THE SCIENCE – Hugging can feel great, can improve relationships and feelings of closeness and surprisingly it also has several physical benefits as well. Scientists found that the hormone oxytocin was released into the blood stream when you hold a friend close. This lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and anxiety and can even

Stress Busting Tips for the Summer Holidays Summer holidays can be full of sunshine, fun and laughter. They can also feel pressurized and hectic! Use my stress busting tips to bring the fun back into your summer holidays. OVERWHELM – Sometimes we over plan. We have play dates and lunches and coffees planned in for every spare moment of everyday. This can sometimes feel overwhelming not only for you but also your children. MAKE IT SIMPLE - plan some down time: time at home to

Sometimes it can take a while to notice we are stressed. STOP stress in its tracks by learning to recognize the signs… AWARENESS – Becoming aware that you are stressed is the first step in taking steps to STOP stress in its tracks. Learn to recognize the first signs of stress as they start to appear. These could include: · Feeling agitated or moody · Feeling overwhelmed · Struggling to relax or overthinking things · Difficulty sleeping ·

It turns out that hugging is not only great for building relationships with those you trust, it can also help lower blood pressure and reduce stress. THE SCIENCE – Hugging can feel great, can improve relationships and feelings of closeness and surprisingly it also has several physical benefits as well. Scientists found that the hormone oxytocin was released into the blood stream when you hold a friend close. This lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and anxiety and can even

Doesn’t it feel great when you share a worry, get another view point, find a solution to an issue? CONFIDE IN SOMEONE – Sometimes when we’re stressed there seems to be no way out of it, no solutions to problems and we tend to go over our negative thoughts in our minds over and over again. Vocalizing our issues with a trusted friend or professional can help us to make sense of our problems, help us order and calm our thoughts and even help us to find solutions to enable us to

Ever stopped to think about the effect of what you eat has on your stress levels? WONDERFUL FOOD – Did you know that someone eating a healthy, balanced diet is likely to be far less stressed than someone with a poor diet? Providing our bodies with nutrients and liquids that help our bodies function well has a big effect on our body and mind. Plus keeping our bodies topped up with frequent, small portions of good fuels throughout the day can help you avoid blood sugar lows and

Have you ever stopped to think about the effect of your thoughts on your stress levels? WHAT IS GOING ON – Spend a few minutes thinking about how you react to potentially stressful situations. For instance, what do you say to yourself (that little voice in your head) if you encounter a problem? Do you say something along the lines of ‘I can’t deal with this’, ‘this will make me stressed’ or ‘Ahhhhh this problem can’t be solved’? Take a moment to think about the effect of the

Simple and effective breathing technique to aid stress reduction. BREATHING – Something as simple as using a daily focused breathing technique can help to activate the body’s natural relaxation response. The relaxation response is a physical state of deep rest that changes the physical and emotional responses to stress (e.g. decreases in heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension). CALM - Deep Abdominal breathing for 20 to 30 minutes each day can reduce anxiety and reduce

Rachael’s Tuesday Stress Busting Tip A very happy new year, a very happy new you. WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY – How great does it feel to be doing something that makes you happy? Laugher, friendship, family, being engrossed in a hobby you love are all great ways to help reduce stress and allows the mind time to relax and concentrate on something fun for a while. REFLECT - A new year is a great time to reflect on the things that really make YOU HAPPY or the new things you would like

Reduce your stress levels with something as simple as gratitude? Really?? THE RESEARCH – Reduce your stress levels with something as simple as gratitude? Really?? Yes really. Gratitude research is beginning to suggest that feelings of thankfulness have tremendous positive value in helping people cope with daily problems, especially stress," Emmons says. Grateful people also tend to be more optimistic which research suggests boosts our immune systems. GRATITUDE – With Christma

Be your own brilliant coach… PIN POINT – Sit yourself down and pin point exactly what it is that is making you stressed. Is it a relationship issue, a challenging project, too much to do? Usually the first thing that pops into your head is the most likely source. COACH YOURSELF – Imagine being a great coach to yourself; a practical, friendly and well-balanced coach that you respect. Maybe it’s someone you know? What would they say about the situation, what practical steps cou

Could walks in nature be prescribed by doctors for stress reduction? TENSION - Stress can cause all sorts of tensions in the body from tense shoulders and jaw to tension headaches and difficulty sleeping. GET MOVING – short walks and particularly walks in nature are not only good to exercise the body, they also help the mind unwind. A US study found that walks in nature can help reduce negative thought loops and calm the mind. Exercise can also help you sleep better. Might th

So the week has now begun and there's SO many things to do and so little time. What should I do first? Feeling as though you have too much to do in a day can cause you to feel stressed. Try this tip to alleviate that feeling. PLAN AHEAD - At the end of the day work out what is really essential for you to get done the next day and what can wait. Does it REALLY matter if you don’t get that tidying up or piece of work completed tomorrow? REWARD YOURSELF - Go on to reward yoursel