18/04/2026
April is stress awareness month .
Something I've been well aware of myself!
We all deal with things differently there's no one thing that necessarily works for all.
From my most recent experience I'm sharing some suggestions below which I have found have been beneficial to me .
Recognising signs of stress , listening to your body.
Being kind to yourself in thoughts and deed:
We all deserve our love and respect equally as much as everyone else.
Speak kindly to yourself : if you wouldn't say it to anyone else why say it to yourself?
Cut yourself some slack
If you wouldn't expect it from others , why expect it of yourself.?. .
Admitting to being stressed and talking to someone about it ; eg a good friend , a counsellor or if need be your GP or other health care professional.
Asking for help when you need it and/ or accepting the offer of help when it's given. (Don't let pride get in the way)
Saying " No" and setting strong boundaries
Breathe: Taking time out , even 5 to 10 minutes to stop , slow down , connect with your body and breathe slowly or practice box breathing or whichever other breathing technique you are familiar with.
Get out in nature: : take a walk down a spot of gardening or just sit in the garden while having a cup of tea or drink of water. Even 10 minutes can make a difference.
If you can't get outside, open a window , observe what's going on in the garden / cloud watch.
Mindfulness practice.
Mindful colouring: there are a few of these nice , reasonably priced books in supermarkets
Meditation : doesn't have to be long you can start with 5 minutes . I find body scanning one of the easiest and most effective for me. There are lots of guided meditations you can find on you tube.
Reiki: If you're a practitioner, practice it regularly for yourself which I do as well as often having distance Reiki from my beautiful friend and Reiki master Sarah at Ocean Soul Healing
Crystals: I wear crystals daily choosing intuitively whichever is most appropriate for each day.
There are crystals on my bedside table , under my pillow and in every room at home.
Stay hydrated : filling a water bottle at the start of your day is a great way to keep track and remind yourself to drink.
If you've forgotten and are out and about pick up a bottle of water.
Remember to eat / be mindful of what you are eating.: Although chocolate and crisps are my weakness/ comfort foods in which I have indulged I have been mindful to ensure I've eaten fruit , vegetables , protein and some carbs
Exercise: whatever form of exercise you enjoy .: walking , yoga , tai chi , dancing
Despite feeling really tired beforehand , I felt energised and uplifted after attending an early morning gentle exercise class yesterday.
Listening to music You might like to try , solfeggio frequencies , relaxation / spa music , binaural beats , koshi chimes , classical music . You might even like ocean sounds , birdsong , : whatever appeals to you.
Reading
Let go of self judgement. Give yourself credit for all that you've done
Give yourself a hug at the start and at the end of the day, you deserve it.
Sometimes just putting one foot in front of the other is enough, it's still moving forward.
Sending you all a cosmic hug
🤗✨💖
