Recent health surveys have suggested that general levels of stress and anxiety have increased dramatically in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Some even hint that stress itself is a becoming the new pandemic.
Of course, dealing with Covid-19 was extremely stressful for everyone, especially those in the front line, the doctors and nurses dealing with death and heartbreak daily.
Unfortunately, with the NHS facing unprecedented challenges and demands on its services, many people are unable to find the professional support they need. Is there anything that can people do to help themselves?
The NHS website says: “Stress is not an illness itself, but it can cause serious illness if it isn’t addressed. It’s important to recognise the symptoms of stress early. Recognising the signs and symptoms of stress will help you figure out ways of coping and save you from adopting unhealthy coping methods, such as drinking or smoking.”
“There is little you can do to prevent stress, but there are many things you can do to manage stress more effectively, such as learning how to relax, taking regular exercise and adopting good time-management techniques.”
So while it seem a simple option to avoid stressful situations, this is not always possible, because many of life’s demands that cause us stress are far beyond our control. The Covid pandemic is just such a situation. Some of the most stressful situations in life include moving home, illness, losing a job and raising a family. So, if we cannot avoid stress, the next best thing is to learn how to cope with stress.
The mental health Charity “Mind” advocates a very practical approach to stress management. It advocates:
- Be kind to yourself.
- Try to find time to relax.
- Develop your interests and hobbies.
- Spend time in nature.
That all sounds like a perfect recipe for a holiday. And yet, taking a holiday is up there with the best, as a source of stress and anxiety on a monumental scale. Airport mayhem, lost luggage, cancelled flights, industrial action and rising prices, are more likely to send our stress levels through the roof.
The obvious alternative is to avoid the airports altogether and look for somewhere closer to home. Somewhere surrounded by beautiful countryside where you have the time to totally switch off, rest, relax, float in a hot pool, learn to throw a pot, have a round of crazy golf or just have a walk in the fresh air.
The Manor & Ashbury Resorts in Devon can offer all that and more, at their two beautiful resort hotels on the edge of Dartmoor. With a full range of sporting, creative and spa facilities, set in the idyllic Devonshire countryside and only a stone’s throw from the sea, it’s a fantastic place for all the family to rest, relax, and recharge those batteries.
Our everyday life can be very demanding task master. It keeps us working, hour after hour, day after day, with scarcely a moment to stop and take stock of where we are and who we are. A holiday away with our families will offer us the chance to do just that.
At The Manor & Ashbury Resorts you can lean to be kind to yourself by allowing yourself the time to just stop and look around you to take in the wonders of the natural world, and listen to the birds singing and the wind rustling through the trees. You can pick up a paint brush and try your hand at painting or simply relax in a hot spa pool and feel the stress and worries just seep away into the water.
We cannot avoid all the situations that cause us stress. But we can avoid unnecessary stress, such as that resulting from international travel. And there is a lot we can do to help us cope with stress we do have. Just be kind to ourselves, relax, take up a new hobby and get close to nature.
