Milly Evans was diagnosed as chronically stressed and had doctors sign her off sick from work because of it, but now said changing one thing about her life helped her relax
We all face a lot of stress in our everyday lives. From worrying about bills to taking care of our families and maybe even having stressful jobs, there’s a lot on our minds all the time, and it can have a serious impact on our mental health.
One woman who was diagnosed as chronically stressed, however, shared how she managed to get her stress under control after years of struggling with it. Milly Evans said not only would doctors have to sign her off sick from work because of her stress, but she actually developed “multiple disabling chronic illnesses” as a result of being too stressed.
Convinced that stress would be the “thing that killed” her, Milly took steps to try to reduce her stress levels. She now describes herself as “one of the calmest people” she knows, and said many of the tips and tricks she tried were “fairly enjoyable” and didn’t cost a penny to do.
Milly has recently started a TikTok series in which she shares the things that worked to reduce her stress. Although she insists her process involved “a lot of trial and error” and not everyone will have the same experience, she hopes to help other stressed people take a breather with her videos.
In her first video on the topic, Milly highlighted one activity many of us are guilty of doing, which she said drastically reduced her stress levels when she finally cut it out – multitasking.
She explained: “I get it, people’s lives are so busy and we live in this time where people are obsessed with optimising everything that they do, but you have no idea how bad multitasking is for your brain until you stop doing it.
“As well as making you feel much more stressed, multitasking is asking your brain to focus on multiple things and to remember multiple things and attempt to get enjoyment out of multiple things at the same time. It just can’t process that.”
Milly even said that multitasking doesn’t have to be getting two chores done at the same time, or answering a work email while you’re also on a work phone call. Even doing things like scrolling on your phone while you’re watching TV can put extra stress on your body.
She continued: “One of the most common examples, and one of the easiest places to start, is with double screening. So, going on your phone while watching TV. There are times when multitasking is unavoidable, but this is generally not one of them. You probably can put your phone in a different room while you’re watching TV.
“It will be difficult at first because you’ll want that extra stimulation, that extra division of your attention, but over time you’ll realise you’re actually able to focus better on what you’re watching, you’ll enjoy it more, you’ll remember more, and your body won’t be this scrunched up ball of stress and tension.
“One of the big benefits of this is that you can turn watching TV into actual restful time, rather than constant overstimulation from either mind-numbing social media or trying to catch up on work or the news at the same time.”
Get help with stress
Most people feel stressed sometimes, but if you feel like it’s is affecting your life, there are things that might help. The NHS recommends the following lists of dos and don’ts when it comes to stress:
Do:
- Try talking about your feelings to a friend, family member or health professional. You could also contact Samaritans, call: 116 123 or email: [email protected] if you need someone to talk to.
- Find out more about 10 stress busters – including getting started with exercise and setting aside time for yourself.
- Use easy time-management techniques to help you take control.
- Use calming breathing exercises.
- Plan ahead for stressful days or events – planning long journeys or making a list of things to remember can really help.
- Consider peer support, where people use their experiences to help each other. Find out more about peer support on the Mind website.
- Listen to free mental well-being audio guides.
Don’t:
- Do not try to do everything at once – set small targets you can easily achieve.
- Do not focus on the things you cannot change – focus your time and energy on helping yourself feel better.
- Try not to tell yourself you’re alone – most people feel stressed at some point in their life, and support is available.
- Try not to use alcohol, cigarettes, gambling or drugs to relieve stress – these can all contribute to poor mental health.
When to see a GP
You should see a GP if:
- You’re struggling to cope with stress
- Things you’re trying yourself are not helping
- You would prefer to get a referral from a GP
If you need help urgently but it’s not an emergency, call 111 or make an urgent GP appointment. However, if you or someone you know needs immediate help, call 999 or go to A&E.
For more information and support, visit the NHS website.