{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"","standfirst":"It\u2019s supposed to be a chance to relax, but summer can often be a stressful time. Travel arrangements, changes to routine, family dynamics and, of course, impending exam results day all take their toll. To help you come out the other side of summer smiling, we\u2019ve put together a list of 10 small things that might help you beat stress.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/2906/69340849_10156388163888021_5283066986786455552_n.png","width":960,"height":960,"altText":"Girl with pictures surrounding her illustrating ways to deal with stress for summer","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":false,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIt sounds simple, but a few deep breaths are probably the easiest and quickest thing to do when stress starts to strike. Focusing on your breathing can help take your mind off what\u2019s bothering you, and it calms your body down too. Why not try learning a few breathing techniques to help you?\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Breathing"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003ECandles can have soothing smell and flickering flame, which makes them great for a relaxing evening. Orange could help reduce stress, lavender could help you relax, and vanilla could boost your mood. What\u2019s your favourite scent?\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Light a candle"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EStress takes its toll on our bodies, and rest is vital to recharge. Give yourself permission to relax, and make sure you leave enough time for a good night\u2019s sleep. A bedtime routine can really help, so try to stop scrolling on a screen and do something calming, such as reading or colouring. \u00A0 \u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Get some rest"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESize doesn\u2019t matter here \u2013 a hamster or gerbil can be just as calming as a Great Dane or a pony.\u00A0If you don\u2019t have a pet at home, you could visit a city farm or petting zoo. You could ask an animal-loving friend if you can visit, or just go on a walk around your neighbourhood in hope of encountering a furry friend.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Pet an animal"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIf you\u2019ve got a few minutes, getting outside into the fresh air can be a great stress reliever. A quick walk uses up energy, which can be great if stress makes you nervous or worried, and it can help you refocus.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Go for a walk"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEspecially if you\u2019re feeling overwhelmed, making a list of what\u2019s going on (or what you need to do) can be a great starting point. Even just getting stuff down on paper can help clear your head. Once it\u2019s all there, you can start planning some solutions. Often, it\u2019s not as bad as you feared once it\u2019s all out in the open.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Write it down"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFind someone you trust, and tell them how you\u2019re feeling. It\u2019s a bit of a clich\u00E9, but a problem shard really can be a problem halved \u2013 you\u2019re not in it alone, and you\u2019ve got someone else to help you get to the other side.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Talk about it"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIt doesn\u2019t matter if you love fruit or devoted to nuts and seeds, there are plenty of foods that contain vitamins and minerals that can help relieve stress. If you\u2019ve got time, maybe you could even head to the kitchen and mix up a smoothie or something else. Watching ingredients combine and change as they transform into a flapjack, energy bar, or soup can be really calming.\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Eat something tasty"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003ESometimes the best way to deal with stress is to take your mind off things for a little while. You might want to chat to friends about things you\u2019ve found funny, discover a new comedian on YouTube, watch funny videos TikTok, listen to a brilliant podcast, try some laughter yoga, or indulge in your favourite funny TV show or film.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Laugh"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIt might not be the best tip for a heatwave, but since they\u2019re few and far-between in the UK, a comforting hot drink is often relaxing. Give something without caffeine a go, such as camomile, hot chocolate or peppermint tea. It can be especially useful if you\u2019re stressed before bed and need to relax before sleep. \u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","label":"Have a hot drink"}]},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003ERemember, these tips don\u2019t fix the big stuff, but hopefully they make the moment more manageable. If you\u2019re worried, you can always check out \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.childline.org.uk/\u0022\u003EChildline.\u003C/a\u003E They\u2019re there online and on the phone, anytime.\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"23 August 2019","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[],"id":40253,"nodeName":"10 ways to deal with stress this summer","title":"10 ways to deal with stress this summer","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/2906/69340849_10156388163888021_5283066986786455552_n.png?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd2f671c40","caption":"Stress in summer 2","type":"png","size":189303,"width":960,"height":960,"altText":"Girl with pictures surrounding her illustrating ways to deal with stress for summer"},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"10 ways to deal with stress this summer","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80MDI1MyJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2019/august/10-ways-to-deal-with-stress-this-summer/"}