Make stress-free habits part of your life
10 October 2011
Taking time out for some stress-free activities is part of the aim of Tamworth’s Stress Less Festival this week.
The festival will be held at the Tamworth Community Centre on Wednesday, 12 October and is again being hosted by the Tamworth mental health interagency.
It will feature a range of displays with ideas for your overall health – from massage to tai chi. It begins with a walk at 7am with a tai chi warm up and will finish back at the community centre at 7:30am for a FREE breakfast courtesy of the Tamworth First Light Rotary Club.
The festival falls on Stress Less Day and is a great opportunity to indulge in some stress-free activities with family, friends and colleagues and to ensure that these habits become part of your daily life.
It is one of many events and activities planned across the region for Mental Health Month 2011.
The theme this year is ‘Wellbeing: Invest in Your Life’ and encourages participants to take a holistic view of health and wellbeing, said Helen Carter, a rehabilitation clinician with Hunter New England Mental Health Service in Tamworth.
“A person’s overall wellbeing can encompass not just their mental health, but also their physical health, social health and spiritual health,” Miss Carter said.
“Stress can impact on many areas of our lives and by strengthening our physical, social and spiritual areas we can increase our resilience and ability to bounce back from difficult times.
“Making changes to physical activity levels by adding in a walk or joining a team sport, having regular times to catch up with friends and family, or attending places to meet new people and nurturing spiritual beliefs are all ways to ensure your life is rich and meaningful,” she said.
Remember, if you are concerned that you or a friend may have a mental health problem, contacting a GP is a good first step. You can also contact Lifeline’s 24-hour help line on 13 11 14 or the Tamworth mental health service on 1300 699 757.
10 tips to stress less:
• Look for opportunities in life’s challenges
• Go for a walk with a friend
• Focus more on things you can control
• Get involved with a cause you believe in
• Give someone a nice compliment
• Ask for help
• Reminisce
• Go to bed earlier
• Breathe
• Take a dance class
Contact: Frances Holz
Phone: 4939 2216