Whilst travelling into work, I often mentally prepare for the day ahead. At times, my thoughts consider many topics, some relevant and like many other people some random humorous pictures pop up in my head, as I process what is important to remember for the day ahead. Have I left anything at home? Have my kids got everything they need? Did I check-in with my partner about any changes to this week’s schedule? We all have at one time, or another felt this sense of rush to go through our personal check lists before starting our main activities for the day.

What is not often well known is that stress affects everyone from children, our pets, the neighbour who always seems to be well put together, as well as ourselves. Stress is a part of everybody’s lives, it can be described as an alarm bell that is hidden within our bodies, going off when we feel threatened. One positive point about feeling stressed is it can provide motivation when something needs to be done. Different people can deal with different amounts of stress, it is an individual condition.

Our central nervous systems help us regulate what we as individuals feel to be a threat and how our bodies react. Some natural reactions to stress are having an increased heart rate, we become more mentally alert, sometimes our muscles may feel tense, or we may suffer from regular headaches. These are just some of the symptoms our bodies can go through when situations are beginning to feel too stressful. We can also experience a continuous loop of issues when feeling stressed. For example, not being able to relax, sleeping less or not going through all the sleeping stages, making us feel over tired the following day, whilst affecting our concentration.

If this sounds familiar, here are some tips to improve your chances of having a better night’s sleep:

Having a warm bath later in the evening.
Regularly taking part in breathing exercises.
Avoiding caffeine or sugary foods last thing at night.
Reading or listening to relaxing music prior to going to bed.
Being active e.g., walking or trying enjoyable activities to suit your circumstances.
If possible, being outdoors at some point during the day.
Talking to someone when worried.

Stress may appear when we are feeling we do not have enough work or activities to do, as well as when we are feeling we have too many things to do. Our concerns may stem from relationship issues, a loss of a job or close friend and or changes to our lifestyles e.g., becoming a parent or having a decrease in our earnings, plus more. The use of humour and chatting to someone can help lighten the load, reduce harmful symptoms, and confirm we are not alone and there are others feeling exactly the same about similar situations. So, I finish as I started, what have I forgotten or what needs to be changed before my day begins? A pair of matching socks might help…