Let’s take a moment to destress

Daily stresses are unavoidable, but there are little things we can do to help manage them. We spoke to our presenters, guests and you, our lovely customers, about what helps you to destress and focus on your wellbeing.

Alison, customer:

If I know I’m going to have a busy day ahead, I’ll just have five minutes meditating and clearing my head after I’ve dropped my youngest off at school. It just helps me get myself sorted for the day ahead.

Alex, presenter:

There are various things I can do to look after my wellbeing. Sometimes it can be as simple as having a bath and a glass of wine, closing the door and pretending my family don’t exist! Sometimes, it can be going for a walk with the dog and getting some fresh air. I find that just getting out of the house can really clear your mind.

Shanti, customer:

I use candles. I always burn them as I drift off into meditation, I like that. Anything like aromatherapy and essential oils really makes me feel better and calmer.

Anne, presenter:

I think it’s so important to be looking after yourself. It’s not necessarily about having some big goal. For me, it’s just being able to get down on the floor with the grandchildren and play around with them. That’s what’s important to me right now.”

Jane, customer:

I love to sew. I’ve got sewing machines and I have fabric and I have patterns. I love making things. Making things to me is a real benefit to my wellbeing, if I make something and I’m happy with it. The other thing I like to do is read and listen to music. If I’m feeling tired and I don’t want to sew, I’ll read a book and put on some music on my Amazon Echo. I’ll just ask for an album that perhaps I remember from when I was a teenager.

Clare, guest:

I find the thing that helps calm me in those really crazy moments is just having a little rollerball in my handbag that’s got some essential oils in it. I have different ones for different moods. If I want to feel grounded, I’ll have something like ginger and lavender. I just roll them on my temples, my forehead and my wrists and take a nice inhale.

Julie, customer:

“For me, it is having that time in the evening when the children have gone to bed just to switch off.  I don’t look at my phone. I watch TV or I read a book, and that is my time, and I wont deviate from that. It keeps me going and I look forward to that.

Anne, customer:

I just remember – be nice to yourself, and you will snap, because its human nature, but do not beat yourself up about it. Take a deep breath, find the good thing that happened in that day and move on. Yesterday is history and tomorrow is a new day.

How will you unwind this May? Take a look at our Health & Wellbeing department for more inspiration.