Stress Less for Wellness – Nov. 2019

Friday 1st November 2019

Hello everyone,

Another month has come and gone – frightening isn’t? Which means it’s time for a brand new blog.

November consists of Bonfire Night, Remembrance Sunday (remember to wear your poppies folks), Black Friday, and somewhere in the middle of all that the official countdown to Christmas begins – usually by the end of the month for those people who want to let the festive cheer in that bit early. I am one of those people. So, for all you Scrooges out there I’m warning you all now…expect there to be some early Christmas Spirit at Sew-Drops in a few weeks’ time. ?

I’ll be honest with you folks, at this moment in time the Sew-Drops household is mayhem! You see, I’m currently working on making and preparing all sorts of products for some local Christmas Craft Fairs in early December (there’ll be more details about those in next month’s blog – I promise). These will be our very first Craft Fairs as a business so getting everything ready on time is key – fabrics need to be cut, kits packed, and gifts made. I wish it was that simple.

Anyway, with all this going on, I find there are times where I have got to stop what I’m doing and take a break. That is what this month’s blog is all about.

No matter who you are or what occupation you have, everyone gets stressed sometimes – I’d be amazed if you didn’t – but we need to know coping techniques to help deal with that stress. I’m going to open up to you all now about 5 ways that help me deal with stress – maybe you can relate to them.

My De-Stress Tip No. 1 – Don’t Over-Work Your Brain:

I have a tendency to focus on getting things done there and then. However, like most of us, I can start to get frustrated when the simplest tasks become painstakingly difficult to do. This can sometimes cause me to get headaches (usually nearing up to dinner time when I’m starting to get tired and hungry) – don’t worry, I don’t get headaches all the time (or else I’d be at my local GP) -That’s my brain telling me “Becky, you’re over-thinking”.

I find that the best ways of coping with this are as follows; not panicking, if I don’t finish the work today, then it’s okay. Sometimes heat can play a role in this too, so remember to keep hydrated and drink plenty of water. And finally, if you’re feeling hungry, have something to eat. You’ll feel better afterwards. Trust me.

My De-Stress Tip No. 2 – Technology is both a Blessing and a Hindrance:

I think that the majority of people can relate to this one. For a decent portion of my job, I spend a good chunk of time staring at my computer screen (like I am now, typing up this blog) – whether it be typing emails or uploading photos to the Sew-Drops social media pages. This is all well and good but staring at a computer or phone screen for hours upon hours is not good for your eyes. The best thing you can do, in this case is to give your eyes a rest and simply come away from the monitor or phone screen for a few hours. Maybe go out for a walk (keeping yourself active is also a good way of relaxing), chat with friends, read a book, have a nice hot shower (I find that during the Winter months that a hot shower can be very helpful) or put on the telly and catchup with the latest series on Netflix.

My De-Stress Tip No. 3 – Pets are True Gifts

Pets are one of the best ways to cope with stress (although half the time it’s the said pet that’s causing most of the stress). Our cockapoo Alfie is my perfect stress relief; he’s my best friend who loves being cuddled and kissed, so when I’m feeling a little tired or frazzled after a hard day’s work, he always comes and snuggles up with me on the sofa. He can sense my emotions, so he knows exactly when I’m happy, when I’m feeling a bit under the weather or if I’ve had a bad day.

Pets are true gifts that can brighten the darkest of days.

My De-Stress Tip No. 4 – Work Alongside Your Creature Comforts

Meaning “material comforts that contribute to physical ease and well-being, such as good food and accommodation”. Yes, I got that off Google. My point is, if possible, try and incorporate things that give you comfort into your working life. For example, because I work from home, I am able to work in comfort. Comfort being able to walk my dog first thing every morning, wear casual clothing and comfy clothing e.g. slippers, being able to have my favourite drink, hot Vimto (I don’t like tea or coffee) whenever I like. It’s great to have during the winter months, and not forgetting being able to wear my pyjamas from late afternoon onwards. That’s right I’m one of those people – and I’m proud ?.

My De-Stress Tip No. 5 – Music, Videos & Apps

Music can really help to de-stress the mind. Whenever I’m sewing, I always listen to Classic FM. I’ve loved listening to that radio station for at least a decade now. Also, YouTube is a gem with regards to videos; whenever I want to relax and watch videos that are based on my passions, feature adorable animals, or are just downright funny, YouTube is my pro to call. Finally, with the range of technology available to us today, it’s no wonder that there are so many different apps that people can freely download to help deal with stress. One that I’ve found recently is ‘Calm’. However, sometimes a good puzzle or game app is just as helpful to help you relax.

I really hope that my stress relief tips have been helpful to you all – especially as we near the Christmas period. If you have any of your own stress relief tips you’d like to share, then please message me at rebecca@sewdrops.co.uk and I’ll mention them in our next blog in December.

Best Wishes,
Rebecca x