5 Ways to De-Stress This New Year

The New Year can bring lots of joy and excitement to many people. There is promise, hope and enthusiasm in the first day of the year - but I'm here to talk about the little stresses that the pressure of a New Year may bring.

It's the 1st of January. For many, the start of the New Year is a chance to reboot; a chance to burn of those Christmas calories and make some personal improvements for the following months. There are a lot of promises made, which can often bring a lot of pressure to make sure this year will live up to its expectations.

However, a New Year can be quite daunting for some. I am about to embark on the final stretch of my last year of University; I don't know what my plan is for the future, I will be starting this term with very little money and have a big, overwhelming dissertation hanging over my head.

Whilst I can look forward to some of the things I have planned for this year, I fully understand the fear of what else 2019 may bring, and the pressure from the ever-growing to-do list that has already begun.

That is why I have come up with a small list of ways to stay calm, that I plan to use to overcome the hurdles of a New Year. These are all simple and accessible ways of keeping on top of things that can be used by anyone:

1. Go on more walks - I know it sounds simple, but going for a walk in the fresh air can do a world of good. Surrounding yourself with nature is a really good way to clear your mind of all the looming tasks that are yet to come. When I'm in Cornwall, I sometimes stroll to the harbour at the bottom of our hill; being near moving water is supposed to be good for boosting your flow of creativity. So is the colour green, which is why being among trees is, y'know, super cool.

2. Try new things - If you ever feel that you hold back from trying new things, whether that be food, activities or social events (I know I am), then it can be hard to find the enthusiasm to branch out. But, getting involved in things that you wouldn't normally do, can be a really good way of reaching that sense of achievement in your day to day. You might even find a new favourite hobby. For me, that happened when I started Zumba. I went to classes on my own, to dance in a way I never had before. It was scary, but I loved every minute of it.

3. Don't sweat the small stuff! - I don't know about you, but I am certainly someone who is quick to stress about the smallest of things. Being stressed is not a nice way to spend time and can have some damaging effects on your mental and physical health. That is why I am going to try and stay calm, take a deep breath, and actualise the problems that I am stressing about. Over-worrying about every small thing is unlikely to change the outcome, and if it is small, then it will rarely need a second thought.

Penryn Harbour, Cornwall

4. Live in the now - This is a really important one for me. I always, always live in the future. I plan ahead, which can have its benefits, but I often live too far in the future. I look forward to the next big thing, or feel the need to know exactly what is going to happen, which only means that I spend less time appreciating what is happening in my life right now. A little bit of planning is necessary, of course, but trying to work out how much money I'm going to have in three months, down to the last penny, isn't necessary. We need to take in everything that is happening right now, and enjoy it, before the next big thing comes along.

5. Smile more - If you are someone, like me, who does live in the future and tends to sweat the small stuff, then you may find that stress is no stranger. Smiling more genuinely increases your levels of happiness, and smiling at other people can go a long way too. Now, I don't mean you should smile constantly at everyone while your sat on the bus, that might be a bit strange, but do try find something in your every day that is worth smiling about. Even if you're having a bad day, it's about finding something simple to appreciate - like when I walked back to my house from the local farm shop with a fresh loaf of bread and felt like a proper Cornish cottage-y grown up. It's sometimes the little things that will give you a reason to smile more and feel happier this New Year.

2019? We've got this.