Stress is one of the greatest health challenges of our time. As you are reading this article, millions of people are suffering – some silently. We couldn’t let Stress Awareness Month pass by without a mention. After all, there is lots we can all do to make it that little bit easier to manage our stress levels.

Over the last year, we’ve all experienced the ups and downs of everyday life as we try our best to adapt to a very different way of living. According to the Mental Health Foundation, 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed over the last year that, at times they have felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.

Perhaps this year, more than ever, we all approach Stress Awareness Month with a heightened understanding of the signs and symptoms. But what can you do to manage stress? How can having your own space – whether that’s a garden room or a space in your house – help?

 

What is Stress Awareness Month?

Before we explore what you can do, let’s briefly touch on Stress Awareness Month’s purpose.

Well, it has been held every April since 1992 by Stress.org to increase public awareness of the causes and treatments for stress.

Stress.Org has a campaign theme every year to encourage people to take positive action in addressing their stress levels. Understandably, the theme for 2021 is Regaining Connectivity, Certainty and Control.

The narrative for connectivity, certainty, and control comes from a collaborative study with Huawei into the stress levels of 2000 British adults during the pandemic. The research showed that 65% of people in the UK had felt more stressed since the COVID-19 restrictions began in March 2020.

Stress Awareness Month invites people to participate in a 30 Day Challenge. Participants choose an action to supplement their Physical, Mental and Emotional wellbeing every day. The thought behind the challenge is that it takes 30 days to turn actions into habits to reduce stress.

 

Reasons to Reduce Stress

If left to fester, stress can become a real barrier to everyday living. Therefore, it’s important to understand your stress levels and how to manage them.

Taking the 30 Day Challenge for inspiration, the best thing you can do is create a stress-reducing routine and environment that works for you. If you are fortunate enough to have a garden room, you could have an area (it doesn’t have to be big) dedicated to giving you more balance. Think carefully about the things that nourish your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. You may just need some soft seating, a little table and a good selection of books to give your mind an escape.

Acknowledge what your body is trying to communicate to you. If you’re tired and feeling overrun, even small adjustments can make all the difference. That inability to sleep, shoulder pain or sinking feeling is often your mind’s way of telling you that you need more of a balance.

Don’t let the coronavirus situation put you off reaching out to others. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to talk. If you want to do this privately, a garden room is a great space to invite someone over or make a telephone call.

Most importantly, if you’re feeling like your mental health is suffering, it’s important to seek medical advice. Your doctor will carefully review your symptoms, rule out any underlying causes and recommend treatment options. Talking therapy is often recommended and this can be done in the comfort of your garden room, office or bedroom – wherever you feel comfortable.

If you’re suffering from burnout at work, don’t be embarrassed to talk to your employer either. The chances are that they may well have gone through something similar themselves. In fact, in our UK Work from Home Survey 2020, 70% of business owners said that mental and physical health would be the most important issue to their staff post lockdown.

 

Health Benefits of a Garden Room

Lack of control was highlighted as the biggest concern from Stress.org’s research with Huawei. One of the most effective ways to regain control and lessen stress levels is to change your environment.

Studies have even shown that being surrounded by nature and soaking up natural light can give your mood a much-needed boost. This is something that an insulated garden room certainly offers.

More than this, an insulated garden room can help you embed many of the NHS’s stress relief techniques, including:

Making ‘you’ time. With an insulated garden room, it’s far easier to escape the mayhem of work and life pressures and simply escape to your own peaceful space, even just for half an hour on either side of the day.

Being active. Believe it or not, for some people, being physically active can make stress almost disappear. You may choose an insulated garden room that doubles up as a gym or meditation space.

Being in control. Now, this is a big one identified as part of this year’s Stress Awareness Month. A garden office can help you organise your day better so that you feel more in control.

Staying connected. You can invite family and friends over and use your insulated garden room as a welcoming party pad. It’s quite the retreat for entertaining.

Challenging yourself. Try and set some personal goals. Having a dedicated outdoor space is the perfect space to feel inspired.

Working smarter, not harder. Rather than being confined to the usual 9-5, having an insulated garden room to work from enables you to choose the hours that suit you. Just remember to give yourself boundaries though.

Helping others. If you have the time, charitable work or fundraising can offer a real mental boost. That time you used to spend commuting can now be spent volunteering.

Avoiding unhealthy habits. If you’re working from home from an insulated garden room, you can create your own healthy habits. Rather than skipping breakfast to battle the morning commute, you can have time for a coffee and croissant on the decked area next to your office.

Order Your Brochure Now

One of the many reasons our customers chose an insulated garden room is that it enhances their life. After all, positioned correctly, it allows the free flow of natural light during the day, relaxing views of your garden and the opportunity for ‘you’ time.

There are many ways that your garden room can be designed to take account of how you like to live your life. Being in Suffolk, we frequently visit people’s homes further afield in Norfolk, Essex and London to offer complimentary design consultation.

There is a soothing garden room for everyone with seven ranges available in over 60 sizes and 13 colours to choose from.

To explore our range of garden rooms, simply download our brochure today.