Stress is a very common emotion; we all feel it from time to time and that is nothing to be ashamed of. What’s important is that we adapt healthy methods to help cope with stress and ensure our mental health is at the forefront of our priorities. When I was a university student, I would get stressed a lot due to the overwhelming number of exams, essays and lingering deadlines playing on my mind. Thankfully, I learnt the value of outdoor space and fresh air as an effective mechanism for dealing with stress. That’s why today I have put together some of my best tips for stress management, using nature and the fresh air.
1- Taking a stroll
The first step is a predictable one, but one that I can truly say made a huge difference for me which is going for a walk. Walking outside has so many benefits from increasing your movement and exercise, releasing endorphins, discovering new scenery, and finally helping to distract and clear your mind. You can go on different walks every day, exploring nearby hidden gems that you might have otherwise never found. Why not plug in a relaxing or uplifting playlist to further help distract your mind and escape to a place of tranquillity?
2- Maximise your use of the outdoors
Next, I wanted to come up with a more unique and less obvious way to relax outside, helping to destress and thanks to Designer Shade Solutions, retractable roof specialists, I found exactly that! They supply retractable outdoor roof pergolas “that can close when the rain hits or open for the sun” as Emma Plus Three describes them. This means that you can sit outside through every season of the year, enjoying the fresh air even when the weather turns grey and miserable. Relax under one of these structures by reading a book, painting, listening to a podcast or even inviting some friends round for food and drinks.
Alternatively, install a smaller structure like a retractable patio roof or retractable patio awning. Do it Yourself describes these awnings as “a popular and convenient way to protect you and your possessions while you are sitting outside”. They further go on to say that with these structures “you can enjoy the weather and breeze without hot sun in the summer, or an inconvenient shower of rain”, so these are perfect for destressing no matter the weather.
3- Focus on meditation
My final tip in this guide for outdoor destressing is meditation. Meditation has become a popular trend for relaxation and improvement of mental wellbeing. You can find plenty of apps and videos online to help with meditation if you are unsure where to start or even recruit a friend and try it together! Meditation is highly effective for releasing your stressful thoughts and relaxing your mind.
Stress is normal
Overall, the most important thing to remember is that stress is normal. So, whilst it is important to manage stress and relax your mind, don’t get bogged down by feeling this way. Listen to your mind and your body and understand why you are feeling the way you are. Finding coping mechanisms that work all year round like a retractable roof UK is an amazing way to help unwind. The Diary of a Jewellery Lover explains how “you can fully maximise time spent outdoors with a pergola that features a retractable roof” – so what are you waiting for?