It’s easy to ignore your mental health when you’re stressed, even more so during times of uncertainty. Stress and anxiety levels have soared in recent months and could worsen as we head into winter.
So, with the year we’re all having, it’s more important than ever to look after your mental health and wellbeing. That’s why we’ve put together simple ways to help you manage and reduce your stress levels from the comfort of your own home.
What is stress and how does it affect us?
First thing's first, what exactly do we mean when we say we feel stressed? Stress is your body’s reaction to feeling under pressure. Stress can sometimes motivate us in our daily lives. Yet, too much stress can affect you mentally and physically.
Stress can make you feel anxious, irritable or overwhelmed. And it can also affect your sleep, eating and even how you engage in your relationships.
What is mindfulness?
A simple and effective way to reduce stress and anxiety is to practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is your ability to be fully present in the moment. It’s all about creating the space to think, breathe and connect with the world around you. It’s about having an awareness of ourselves, our feelings and our reactions.
Practicing mindfulness is something we can all do. Here are 4 ways you can practice mindfulness in the comfort of your own home:
Spend time in the kitchen
Sometimes cooking can feel like a chore, especially after a long day at work. But it can also be the perfect opportunity to live in the moment. Whether you’re prepping the ingredients, reading the recipe or even setting the table, cooking lets you concentrate on specific tasks, so you can stay present with each process. It can also ignite creativity or evoke a sense of calm, all of which can increase your happiness.
If you’d like to practice mindfulness in the kitchen, why not try it out with the FlavorStone Diamond? The Pan That Can works on gas, induction, electric and ceramic stovetops, as well as in your oven and on your grill. And you get 25% more space for all your ingredients compared to circular pans. Plus, its non-stick wipe clean coating makes washing up easy as can be.
Get active at home
We all know the benefits of exercise for our mind and body. Being physically active is also a great way to practice mindfulness. Running, cycling, walking… they all help you get in the zone and block out any distractions that are stopping you from living in the now.
With the Orbitrek X17 multi-trainer you can get a full workout at home. It has 17 different burn paths and combines the movements from 5 different workouts into 1 machine, thanks to its dual crank mechanism. You’ll also activate more muscles on the Orbitrek X17 and burn 34% more calories than a traditional exercise bike.
Set the mood
Practicing mindfulness each day will help you to relax, and in doing so feel less stressed. One way to do this is through meditation. It lets you slow down and appreciate what’s around you, including your own thoughts and breathing.
Keep it clean
It’s true what they say, a tidy home equals a tidy mind. If you’re living or working in a messy space, your thoughts will most likely be as cluttered. To help clear your mind and reduce your levels of stress, make sure your environment is clean and organized.
Why not get yourself a cleaning solution from the H2O range? From the H2O e3 Natural Cleaning System to the H2O HD Mop, you can clean, sanitize and deodorize multiple surfaces quickly and effectively. H2O products also kill 99.9% of germs, bacteria and viruses lurking around your home.