“I’m stressed!” is a really common statement we all use to express how we’re feeling. But at its core is more than just the notion that we have a lot on our plate. Stress can be really damaging, affecting everything from our sleep and relationships to our anxieties and our sight.
Recognising and combatting stress and the impact it has on our day-to-day lives is so important. National Stress Awareness Month takes place every April in the UK, and this year’s theme is #LittleByLittle: focusing on how everyday steps – however small they may seem – have a big impact to positively reduce the effects of stress over time.
Marriott Lifestyle is all about making wellness an integral to your everyday – frequently taking those small steps to care for yourself and unwind. We firmly believe stress free moments to relax are not just a ‘one-off’ or a ‘treat’. Instead, you need to recognise your own needs and carve regular time to support them – with consistency the biggest catalyst for meaningful change.
Get outdoors on the golf green
One thing all health experts agree on is that fresh air is good for our minds, bodies and souls. Step into the great outdoors and onto the green at one of our championship golf courses across the UK, where you’ll find calm in nature away from your busy day-to-day life.
No matter whether you have one hour or one day to spend golfing, you’ll find stress reduction benefits from joining us on the green. Take on an 18-hole award winning course, setting scores under par as you walk, talk and socialise between holes. Or, practice your hits on the driving range to relieve your stresses and boost your swing skills amongst nature.
You’re spoilt for choice with breathtaking surroundings and countryside views. For example, pine trees and rolling fairways border the 6,085 yard course at Delta Hotels Tudor Park Country Club, which was selected as the host for the PGA EuroPro Tour and the Kent PGA Pro-Am.
Boost your endorphins in the fitness centre
The benefits of exercise on your physical and mental health are endless – and they’re backed by science. Exercise reduces your body’s stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, whilst at same time it boosts your endorphins: your natural mood elevators.
All exercise is good for stress reduction, so it’s about finding the workouts you love to do that suit your ability and your schedule. You might join us in a fitness class or choose to swim some lengths in the pool. Or, if you love the gym, ours are fully equipped with everything from treadmills and bikes to inclusive weights sections open to all.
With Marriott’s state-of-the-art fitness centres, you’ll discover the type of exercise you enjoy doing to release those feel-good hormones, helping improve your sleep and providing a place to work on yourself in ways that boost your confidence.
Melt away worries in the spa
It’s not only during those active moments when we feel our stress levels are reducing. Mindful practices and taking moments to relax and reflect are just as crucial – and you’ll create the time to do just that in our spas.
Book an hour’s treatment on your way home from work to relieve those physical signs of stress (try a knot-reducing back massage to ease the pain of a week spent hunched over your laptop). For more meditative stress reduction, carve out a morning for a mental detox with a session at the spa. Sweat out toxins in the sauna and reflect in silence in the steam room.
Struggling to find your stress-free space in the bustle of a big city? Step into the iconic rooftop Hydropool and Thermal Suite for a fresh air detox at One Spa, Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa, Edinburgh – voted Best Spa in Scotland 2023 by the acclaimed Good Spa Guide. The spa also boasts its own relaxation suite, designed for those tension-easing moments away from the everyday.
Whether you’re taking up swimming, starting out running or learning to play golf, having a hobby has proven benefits on stress reduction. As well as a meaningful distraction as you engage in something new, it can increase social interactions and confidence levels as you improve your skills, beat your targets and feel accomplishment in what you can achieve with both body and mind.
However you like to unwind, whether it’s an up-tempo workout or a poolside meditation, at Marriott your time is truly yours. Discover more about what that looks like with memberships to match your Lifestyle and take away your tensions.