Research reveals that almost half of Brits (46%) feel more stressed than they did six months ago, with 64% of UK adults attributing stress to impacting their overall appearance, with 65% believing that stress accelerates the appearance of ageing.
Broadcaster Vick Hope and Perfectil have created a Micro-Wellness Rituals Guide, which provides simple micro-steps to help prioritise mental and physical wellbeing.
Vick Hope, Perfectil Ambassador, has 5 Micro-rituals she uses to support overall wellness : “Just like our bodies, our minds need downtime and care to thrive. That’s why I’m so passionate about working with Perfectil to share my personal wellness ‘Micro-rituals’, in hope that this will inspire others to use these tools to manage their stress and help maintain balance in their daily lives. It’s never easy to prioritise yourself with the demands of work, family and day-to-day pressures and responsibilities to others, and we are all guilty of setting aside our own wellbeing to focus on what’s going on around us, but remember, you matter too. We must all find time for practices that allow us to embrace and nurture our mental wellbeing and acknowledge our inner strength, be that journaling, yoga, meditation or a walk in nature. Here’s to a balanced and healthy life.”
The price of stress? How the Cost-of-Living Crisis is impacting our health Of those surveyed, the Cost-of-Living Crisis (43%), the pressure to do everything (35%) and work/life balance (28%) were selected as the top stressors. While 12% find trying to look after their appearance and time for wellness activities an additional stressor.
The hidden cost of stress and how it’s sabotaging your appearance. Of those surveyed, 42% have no time for a wellness routine, which could incorporate activities such as meditating, beauty routines, walking in nature or digital detoxing. Over half (51%) spend less than an hour on wellness activities each week, stating a lack of motivation (49%) and over a third (38%) say they would ideally dedicate more than an hour to wellness activities each week to tackle their
current stress levels. Nearly two-thirds (64%) claim stress impacts their overall appearance, yet more than a third (39%) feel like they have hardly any time for beauty or grooming routines, with 50% spending less than 30 minutes each week on their appearance. 41% state their main priority when feeling stressed is having good hair, with 39% calling out good skin and 18% highlighting healthy nails. Shaving is the most common activity to be neglected when stressed (59%), closely followed by hair washing (56%), changing towels/face cloths (49%) and daily skincare routines (46%).
Jo Hemmings, Behavioural Psychologist, stated: “The findings of the survey are concerning, with burnout potentially affecting several of us throughout our lives. Burnout can be attributed to several factors, including health, work, home life and relationships. It is important that people recognise the signs and symptoms to avoid prolonged or ongoing stress, which can affect their wellbeing. To help combat this, I would recommend allowing yourself some time for self-care, whatever that looks like
for you. Start with micro-wellness rituals, such as mindful breathing for a few minutes a day and build up from there. Identify triggers that leave your mind feeling exhausted and work on these. This could be a reduction in screen time or a step away from technology that allows you to reconnect to real life with a more mindful and positive attitude.”
