April is Stress Awareness Month, but these last two years have been quite challenging and understandably stressful. With all the balancing between work, family and house chores, it’s okay to feel stressed but it’s more important you follow the tips to manage stress.
In this blog, we will present you top tips to manage stress.
Physical Activity
Eat Well
Get Good Sleep
Book A Laundry Service
Make Time for Yourself
Physical Activity
A top tip to manage stress is physical activity; put on your headphones, listen to your playlist, and go out for a walk. The warmer weather calls for more time outside so make the best of it.
You can even go out for a jog or use the gym for stress relief. Exercise releases endorphins shifts your energy to positivity and improves your mood to manage stress. Set your fitness goals to keep yourself motivated.
Don’t worry about your dirty gym laundry, we’ll do the heavy lifting by doing your laundry for you!
Eat Well!
We’ve all been there. When we are having a bad day, the first thing we do when we are free is rush to the fridge and start to stress-eat. This feels good now, but it adds to the stress in the long term.
Maintaining a good diet is the key to stress management. Cut down the caffeine. Drinking Chamomile tea is highly recommended for stress relief as it helps relaxation.
We are approaching the summer so even the basics like staying hydrated help in managing stress.
Another good tip to manage stress is keeping your Vitamin D in check; eat eggs and mushrooms. Eat a healthy amount of broccoli and green beans as they are excellent for stress relief.
Get Good Sleep!
Getting a goodnight’s sleep is not only good for the heart but it helps us wake up in a good mood, stay productive and recharge our battery. Waking up tired makes us more stressed.
To manage stress and your sleep, we recommend sleeping at the same time daily and getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Turn your phone off as they are a distraction and will only keep you awake.
The key to a goodnight’s sleep could be your bedsheets and linen so make sure they’re comfortable, fresh, and cleaned!
Book a Laundry Service
Laundry is a never-ending chore and if you have kids, work or a busy lifestyle, a mountain of dirty clothes can be stressful.
However, it doesn’t have to be stressful. Managing your laundry is a great stress relief and we at Laundryheap love to help.
Simply book a service with us, schedule a collection and you’ll get your laundry back in 24 hours.
No hassle, no stress! A very basic tip to manage stress is to simply feel good and with freshly cleaned and well-ironed clothes, you’ll feel happier!
Make Time for Yourself
When you get stressed, it’s okay to take a break and make time for yourself. Don’t overwhelm yourself with daily responsibilities and chores. Reading a book, travelling to new places, shopping online and meeting friends are all proven to be great stress relievers.
Doing things we love is a great tip to manage stress and one we strongly recommend.
We hope your stressful days are less frequent. If you do get stressed, remember to follow the tips above to manage your stress.
Eat well, stay active and book with Laundryheap so you have more time to pamper yourself!
Outside of London, Manchester is becoming one of the biggest centres for employment in the UK. With more and more people flocking to Manchester to pursue a career, the city now has one of the fastest-growing job rates in the country.
With more people working, comes more people stressing. Gone are the days of the straight forward 9-5. Instead, our time outside of work is now mainly occupied by our ever-evolving phones constantly bombarding our brains with text, email and calls. Also, that’s not to mention the continuous overbearing pressure that all of our social media addictions bring.
If you happen to be one of the thousands of people in Manchester feeling depleted, bewildered, and stressed, make sure you remember to take some time to relax. Here are some of our suggestions on the best places to unwind outside of work in Manchester.
Take in some creativity in Manchester’s Northern Quarter
Lose yourself in one of the cities many green spaces
Channel your inner feline by hanging out with some cats
Go see a concert
Visit the Victoria Baths
Take a trip to The Lowry
Make the most of the Manchester Museum
Absorb some knowledge in the Manchester Central Library
Grab a bite to eat in Ancoats
Take in some creativity in Manchester’s Northern Quarter
Often referred to as Manchester’s most ‘happening’ area, the Northern Quarter is jam-packed with premier art galleries like the Whitworth Art Gallery and Manchester Art Gallery.
Even if you are not an art enthusiast, the tranquil environment of art galleries makes them the perfect go-to places for some well-earned downtime. Take advantage of one of the many trendy cafes, bars, eateries or art galleries in the Northern Quarter. Above all, be sure to take your time and connect with everything that is in front of you. Don’t forget to take time to reflect with everything going on with yourself as well.
Lose yourself in one of the cities green spaces
Manchester is not exactly renowned for its luscious green spaces, but some of the city’s parks are real gems. One of these gems is Heaton Park. Located on the Northern edge of the city, it is the biggest park in the city and the largest municipal park in Europe. To say you can feel its size when walking around is an understatement.
When strolling through the broad green fields, expect to find a boating lake, golf course, tram museum, animal sanctuary, and a Grade I listed country house that dates back to the 18th century. This spot is the perfect escape from the stresses of city life. In addition, the park also host’s several concerts each year, as well as Manchester’s famous Parklife Festival.
Channel your inner feline by hanging out with some cats
Yes, you read that right. No, don’t go out and hang around with the city’s array of random cats. What we are suggesting is much less sinister. It’s called Cat Cafe.
This magical cafe allows customers to spend one on one time with their extensive clowder of cats. For just £12 an hour, you get unlimited hot and cold drinks, as well as the pleasure of spending time with the adorable, sleepy cats who call this cafe home. The geniuses behind this idea are passionate about Assisted Animal Therapy and its benefits on humans. So pop in, stroke a cat, and let your brain forget about all the stresses of your working week. One warning though, you may never want to leave.
Go see a concert
There is live music to be seen every single night of the week in Manchester. Venues like the Albert Hall, Manchester Arena, O2 Ritz, Manchester Academy, and Yes Manchester mean you are always spoilt for options. It doesn’t matter if it’s country music or rap that you are into, Manchester has something for everyone.
Manchester is ripe with musical history, from Oasis and the Stone Roses to the famous House scene of the ’90s. This history lives on today in the form of new bands popping up all the time and the street art showcasing the cities famous artists of the past.
Visit the Victoria Baths
Located in the Chorlton-on-Medlock area of Manchester, the Victoria Baths were opened to the public in 1906. The building is a Grade II listed building. Manchester’s first City Architect Henry Prince designed the building. Prince spared no expense on the design and construction at the time. The structure has multicoloured brickwork and terracotta decoration. The interior boasts glazed tiles and decorative stained glass windows.
Meanwhile, the building remains remarkably intact with most of the original tiles and stained glass still remaining. The baths are now open from March to November each year for guided tours, public open days and special events. This is a great spot to appreciate architecture, take in some history and forget about the little things that have been bothering you at work.
Take a trip to The Lowry
Once the location for a bustling dockland area, before becoming just another abandoned quay, The Lowry has had its fair share of ups and downs. Today, The Lowry makes for the ideal waterside leisure destination. Located just 10 minutes from the city centre. The Lowry sits nestled between the Imperial War Museum and Old Trafford Stadium.
The area is a hub for renowned theatre productions, ranging from West End classics to productions from across the world. As well as being a place for lovers of theatre, there’s also a cinema, shopping centre, loads of great restaurants and plenty of places to relax after work. Whether you are a sports fan, shopping addict or just lover of all things cultural, The Lowry has something for everyone trying to escape the perils of work.
Make the most of the Manchester Museum
The Manchester Museum boasts a vast array of treasures from both the natural and the cultural world. And with 4 floors of displays and exhibitions in 15 galleries, featuring collections from the world over, rest assured you can get lost in the Manchester Museum for hours on end.
What better way is there unwind after work than to visit a Tyrannosaurus Rex named Stan or taking in some works of art in the Museums Manchester gallery? The museum has a host of permanent exhibits, as well as new special events popping up all the time. There is also a cafe right next door, perfect for when you have had a long day of absorbing history. Enjoy a cup of tea, reflect on what you’ve seen, and most importantly, take your mind off of work.
Absorb some knowledge in the Manchester Central Library
Looking for a quiet place to unwind after a day of meetings, telephone calls and emails? Look no further than Manchester Central Library. Like The Victoria Baths, the library is a Grade II listed building. The iconic venue was first opened in 1934. The year 2010 saw the building receive a £50m refurbishment, taking four years and bringing the building into the 21st century.
The library now combines historic features with cutting-edge modern design. Have a walk around the library and take a look at previously hidden heritage spaces and the grand Wolfson Reading Room. They also have a cafe on-site, so find a book, grab a coffee and let all that unwanted stress disappear.
Grab a bite to eat in Ancoats
Ancoats is located right beside the Northern Quarter, which featured earlier on this list. This, like its neighbouring suburb, is a hip area known for its flourishing food and drink scene. Once a gritty textile district of the city, Ancoats has now become one of the top spots for nightlife in Manchester.
With a wide range of cuisines available from Scandinavian eateries, Japanese tea-houses to Mexican tequila joints – there is something to tickle all taste buds in Ancoats. Alongside all this wonderful food is numerous craft breweries and speakeasy-style bars, for those who are more thirsty than hungry. Ancoats is the perfect place to let off some steam after work, with something for everyone, we challenge you not to have a good time in this quirky neighbourhood.
Wondering how to free up some time after work to enjoy some of the activities on this list? Why not use Laundryheap to help take some of the burden of house chores away. We offer a same day laundry and dry cleaning collection with free delivery within 24 hours.
We all experience a stressful day at work, sometimes a stressful week. Then you go home and have other household responsibilities to take care of like cooking and doing the laundry, making you more stressed. Over time, this can affect your well-being, mentally and physically.
It’s important to give yourself some downtime to relax. If you find it difficult to unwind and want an instant solution to de-stress, here are some things you can do to help you relax after work.
10 Ways To Relax After A Stressful Day At Work
Go for a walk
It’s always good to walk off the stress and clear your mind after a long day. If you have the opportunity to walk after work even if it’s to a bus stop or from the station, then take it. It ‘s even better if you can take a quick stroll through a park.
If the tension is too much and you need to escape the stress during work, go out and get some fresh air or take a quick walk around the building.
Listen to music
Shut the world out and relax your mind by listening to music that will instantly make you feel change your mood for the better. Promote calmness and relaxation by listening to music that sounds soothing, or listen to upbeat music to help brighten up your mood and bust the stress.
Have a laugh with friends
Call your friends and have a catch-up or have a spontaneous after-work meet up. Vent about how bad your day was and then change the topic to get your mind off things. It’s always good to laugh as this releases endorphins making you instantly feel better.
Watch Netflix
Whether it’s on your journey home via public transport or during the spare hours you have left before you go to bed, watch a movie or series on Netflix. Have a laugh and watch a stand-up comedy or be entertained by discovery or baking show.
Have a cup of tea
Sit back and enjoy a nice cup of tea while watching series or reading a book. Tea such as green tea, peppermint tea and Jasmine tea, are known remedies for relieving stress and anxiety.
Aromatherapy
Relax and unwind by using essential oils to regulate emotions and help calm your nerves. There are several ways to use essentials oils. You can add a few drops of essential oil to your lotion or directly on your wrists to keep the scent with you. You can use a diffuser to spread the aroma around your home, or mix it with water in a spray bottle and spray on your furniture.
Take a hot bath with essential oils
Take a soothing hot bath to relax your muscles and ease the tension in your body. Try adding a few drops of essential oils to your bath water like Lavender or pink grapefruit. Alternatively, you can light up aromatic candles around your bath tub or take a hot shower.
Do yoga
Find serenity by doing 15-20 mins of yoga. This mind-body practice will help you to unwind and release tension, leaving you feeling refreshed and restored. The combination of poses, breathing and meditation will help to enhance your mood and well-being.
Art therapy
Distract your mind and occupy yourself by doing something creative like draw, paint, sew or do a DIY and make something.
Use Laundryheap
Laundry is a daunting household task that takes up a lot of time that we sometimes don’t have. It is certainly not something you want to do after coming home from a long day at work either. No matter how big or small your laundry pile is, take the load off and get Laundryheap to take care of your laundry so you can then have more time to relax and pamper yourself.
