Distress to de-stress / And relax!
Are you feeling the heat every day (despite the decidedly changeable April weather)? If you’re increasingly overwhelmed by juggling modern life’s many demands, then take advantage of the free resources and help during Stress Awareness Month.
The Stress Management Society has created a 30-Day Challenge to help you dial down your stress levels, focusing on taking one new action each day to boost your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. It takes 30 days on average to turn new actions into habits, so by the end of the month you could be enjoying a whole new outlook on life.
As well as the challenge, there’s a daily de-stressing planner, a seven-day action plan, a digital detox checklist, a free stress guide, videos and even a rather lovely stress-relief adult colouring book. The website has loads more resources too, including a stress test, breathing exercises and a newsletter packed with tips and advice.
Find out more at stress.org.uk/national-stress-awareness-month/
No more snores
Did you know?
- Snoring has affected humans for millennia, with the ancient Egyptians documenting thyme as a treatment 3,500 years ago.
- Over 40% of the population snore, and it’s twice as common in men than women, although it increases in women after the menopause.
- At 40 decibels, snoring starts to affect sleep quality, and severe snoring can be as loud as 50-100+ decibels.
- Long-term snoring can be a symptom of obstructive sleep apnoea in 4-10% of people.
- Hormones play a huge role – testosterone replacement therapy in men doubles their risk of snoring, while women with polycystic ovary syndrome, which is characterised by raised testosterone levels, have four times the rate of snoring and sleep apnoea.
National Stop Snoring Week from 18-22 April is an excellent opportunity to find out how you can control factors that increase snoring, from exercises to lifestyle changes and devices.
Find out more at britishsnoring.co.uk
Get up offa that thing!
How many hours a day do you spend sitting down? For the typical office worker, it’s ten hours. Yet regularly sitting for more than eight hours a day can lead to a 40% higher risk of heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. On Your Feet Britain Day on 27 April is all about increasing your hours of daily standing and light activity to two to four hours during the working day, with great tips for encouraging you to make a standing start at liberating yourself from the chair.
Find out more at getbritainstanding.org and look out on Instagram for the #BigWiggle #OYF2023
About the author: Gill Mullins is a freelance writer and journalist at www.superhappycontent.com
