I was planning to talk to you about creativity, but I haven’t felt very creative this month… In all honesty I’ve actually felt a bit STRESSED!!!

June kicked off with a double-bank-holiday-whammy, followed by the flu and a few days off sick. On top of that I’ve just got back from a long weekend for a friend’s wedding, and now I’m off to London for the rest of the week. 

Time off can’t be helped and our parent group, N21 encourages us to have a greater work/ life balance (the best I’ve ever had), but my working days have been a lot lower than I’d like this month, and so I’ve let my worries get the better of me. 

Sometimes we let panic consume us, and it’s really important to get our heads out of the sand and turn things around. This is why I’m using our newsletter this month to open up and share tips on:

How to slay the stress demon and get your mojo back when you’re feeling under it.

But firstly, how do you even know if you're stressed in the first place?

It all starts with understanding yourself: 

• Are you feeling more tired than usual? 
• Suffering from headaches or migraines?
• Struggling to get to sleep or sleeping too much?
• Not eating right?
• Turning to alcohol or drugs to unwind?
• Having mood swings?
• Feeling a loss of confidence or motivation?
• Are your muscles aching?
• Have you lost your sex drive?
• Do you feel overwhelmed?
• Are you being more quiet than usual, and hiding away?

If you’re feeling one of these symptoms, then you need to identify the root of the cause.

Everyone suffers from stress so don’t worry about it, instead focus on how you can fix it.

Here's how I conquered it:

1. Talk it out

It seems easy but it’s actually really hard to be honest and open up. Turn to people who are active listeners and have your best interest at heart. I have a mental list of people I trust to give me the right advice and positive energy I need when I’m feeling low. Sometimes I’ll go to them when I have problems, but other times they’ll come to me. 

This month, a few peeps in our team noticed I wasn’t being my usual self and reached out to check in. Big thanks to SJ, Becky and Jodie for being such great friends.

2. Breathe

Here’s a little tip I picked up from the unbelievable Kirsty Hulse (we had a confidence training from her recently and it was everything!). When you’re feeling worked up, stop and take in a deep breath, then breathe out as slowly as you possibly can. Repeat this a few times, and you'll have decreased your heart rate and will feel much calmer.

3. Exercise

I gave it the big one last month about how I'd finally signed up to the gym. Well, I'd struggled to make time for it this month and it really showed. I went back last week after a big gap and I felt incredible afterwards. Keeping active is so important for your mind and I will definitely be making time for it every week!

4. Eat better

Stay away from comfort food! It’s really important to give your body exactly what it needs. Get more colours on your plate, drink more water, and if your food is lacking certain vitamins and minerals, take supplements. 

Most importantly make sure you’re actually eating, no one likes you when you’re hangry.

5. Don't be so hard on yourself

Be kind to yourself and remember that we all have our ups and downs. Stop finding faults and negatives in yourself, and instead feed off the positives. Reflect on where you are right now in your life, and look at how far you’ve come. YOU can do this!

6. Focus on hobbies

My hobby is music and it’s my best reset technique. I get my emotions out by jamming on my synths and reflecting, almost like I’m soundtracking my week. It allows me to clear my head, get it all off my chest and feel relaxed. 

Try using your hobby to channel your energy too!

7. Treat yo self

This one doesn’t need to be expensive, in fact it doesn’t need to cost anything at all, just make some time for you. Read that book you haven’t gotten around to yet, go and see that new movie, go for a coffee or enjoy a walk in the park. Similar to focusing on hobbies, this is all about finding a reset and clearing your head.

If you’re feeling a bit stressed at the moment, then I hope these little tips help. I’m certainly feeling much better and back to my usual chirpy self. 

Thanks for reading and I’ll catch you again next month for something less deep, I promise!

A few more things to check out 📚:

Digital marketing is stressful - Ashley Segura (Ward) - 7 Major Stressors For Digital Marketers & How To Deal  📚  

Give this app a try - Calm - 7 Days of Managing Stress 📱

Deal with stress at work - Anshul Lalit - 9 Ways to Reduce Stress at Work: A blog around ways to handle stress in the workplace 📚

I write about marketing too - Dominic Apes - What is a Digital PR Strategy and How Do I Create One? 📚

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Our newsletter journey has only just begun and we’d like more friends like you. If enjoy reading our stories, then please recommend us: https://wearenorth.uk/friends-in-the-north/

If you need someone to talk to, my door is always open, even if we don't know each other yet. 

I'm serious, just reply to this email, or find me on LinkedIn

Thanks for reading, this issue was written by Dominic Apes (NORTH - Senior Marketing Manager).