It's been another week of pretty bleak news, and whilst it's always tempting to use this column to vent my spleen, I thought we'd indulge in a little chillout time instead. When it comes to relaxing, research commissioned by Bahlsen has come up with a top ten countdown, charting the best ways to switch off from the treadmill of life. Here they are in full.5021]
10. Catching up with friends (25%). It's undoubtedly a nice way to spend your time, but occasionally, is it just me who feels a mild sense of relief when a friend cancels plans? An unexpected free evening is a real treat, but then again so is having a social with mates who you haven't seen for a while. One rule...encourage everyone to put their phones in the middle of the table. There's nothing more annoying than meeting up with an old pal and watching them gazing at their device for several hours. When did we reach the point when that wasn't considered the height of rudeness?!
9. Browsing social media (26%). I am 48, so don't do TikTok, but my younger colleagues at the newspaper probably spend a fair bit of time on this platform. I don't find social media relaxing in the slightest, if I'm honest. If anything, 'X' spikes my blood pressure, and the only thing I enjoy on Facebook is keeping the 'poke' function alive, much to the annoyance of my friends.
8. Gardening (27%). We are in the process of buying our first house at the moment, which is definitely not relaxing. But I am told gardening is great for your zen, so I am hoping to discover a love for all things greenfingered once we have moved.
7. Having a nap (29%). I'm all or nothing when it comes to sleep. Having done breakfast shows for eight years, and the associated early starts, my body clock is pretty ruined, and if I try to get 40 winks in the afternoon, I end up sleeping for several hours. Therefore, I eschew naps at all costs, and just drink more coffee.
6. Hot drink and a biscuit (29%). If it's a custard cream or a garibaldi, bring it on. Shortbread, on the other hand, is vastly overrated, in my book. Either way, a hot beverage and a cheeky dunk is always a winning plan.
5. Spending time in nature (30%). One of the only good bits of those strange pandemic times was rediscovering the beauty of parks and green spaces. A bit of 'forest bathing' is definitely good for the soul, and you'll feel a lot less stressed as a result.
4. Going for a walk (43%). You never feel worse after going for a walk. I'm working on building up my step total, and did manage almost 15,000 on Monday this week. Unfortunately, I probably undid all the benefits by scoffing a parmo, which is a delicacy consisting of breaded chicken, bechamel sauce and a load of melted cheese. I'm now lobbying for Kirsty in the Kitchen to feature it in this newspaper! Watch this space.
3. Listening to music (44%). I do this all day for my job, and get to discover great new songs each week when putting together the playlist for Tameside Radio. Music is definitely good for the soul. One of life's little pleasures is finding a record fair and browsing through crates of vinyl, in search of hidden gems. Whilst streamning is great, physical formats still have a lot of magic.
2. Reading (47%). I've just started Eurotrash by Christian Kracht, and am loving the black humour. I'm embarrassed to say I haven't completed a book yet this year, so am hoping this might be the one, as it's fewer than 200 pages. Less social media, more reading must be the answer to better mental health.
1. Watching a TV programme or film (56%). I certainly do more than my fair share of cinemagoing, and am about to watch my 100th movie at the cinema this year. I'm not so hot on telly shows. I've got an endless list of recommendations, from The Traitors to The Hack, that I'll probably never get round to watching!
Whilst I'm a news junkie, it's sometimes good to switch off from the endless cycle of bad news that we see on rolling news channels and social media. Hopefully one or two items on this list might inspire you to take a bit of time away from life's hustle and bustle.
