Top tips to manage your stress and help your recovery.
Tomorrow is National Stress Awareness day.
The impact of stress on our health and wellbeing is profound and it is something experienced by millions around the UK. The Mental Health foundation reported that at some point in the last year, 74% of us have felt so stressed that we have felt unable to cope.
My job brings me in contact with many who are stressed, either due to the impact an injury is having on their body and their lifestyle, or where the stress they are experiencing is contributing to the condition or injury they have come to me about.
In my role I am expected to get to know ALL the variables that are impacting not just upon my patients ability to move pain free but on why they are in discomfort, what is the cause, what factors in their lives make it easier or harder to be mobile, motivated and supported to pursue their recovery?
The plan of care I provide is expected to take these issues into account and be tailored to provide solutions and strategies to support the best, most realistic and effective treatment journey for that unique patient.
I, like everyone else, am not immune to the impact of stress and I have cultivated a number of ways I know help me regain focus, clarity and control. I find simple meditation gives my brain a rest and chance to reset. It can be done anywhere, any time and doesn’t have to be perfect.
Meditation, like any skill takes practice.
- Start small – 5 mins is a great start.
- Try different types of meditation and find a way that suits you
- Plan meditation into your day – pick a time and try to stick to it.
- Get comfortable
- Breath naturally
Don’t judge the meditation practise – allow it to just be!
If your mind wanders during the meditation practise, that’s ok, become aware of it and bring your attention back to the meditation track
There are so many resources available online and with so much to choose from it means there is likely to be something you can relate to.
MindTools.com has a particularly comprehensive range of explanations, guides and strategies. These help get to the heart of the problem and acknowledge that not everyone deals with stress the same way by giving access to multiple stress management techniques.
These guided exercises from The Honest Guys are not only relaxing but the commentary doubles as a practical guide to preparing for meditation, recognising signs of stress and simple guided techniques to slow breathing, relax muscles and calm thoughts. A lot to gain for just 15 minutes of your day.
GUIDED MEDITATION – Simple Breathing Exercise
GUIDED MEDITATION – TOTAL STRESS RELIEF!
Similar meditations to destress and help you sleep can be found on the Calm app. Stress triggers can be unpredictable and putting the app on your phone means that stress management is at your fingertips.
Calm – The #1 App for Meditation and Sleep
I hope some of these techniques and resources might provide you with a window of calm to begin to break the hold stress might have over you.
If your stress is being caused by or contributing to an injury or pain that we can help with please get in touch. You can contact me at 0333 301 0205 or email treatment@optimalphysio.co.uk or if you are ready you can book an appointment online by following this link.
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