One of New Zealand’s leading wellness experts Rachel Grunwell has witnessed a huge demand in people seeking support as stress and anxiety levels soar during the Omicron outbreak.
As New Zealand’s Omicron outbreak continues, many Kiwis including children are seeking support as the Covid-19 pandemic brings heightened levels of depression, insomnia, stress and anxiety. Uncertainty, the fear of catching Covid-19, the loss of loved ones, financial hardships and social isolation have all lead to people seeking stress coping mechanisms.
“Kiwis are definitely starting to realise that health is their true wealth, as they look for ways to deal with the negative impacts of Covid-19 past contracting the virus. Over my 20 years of working as a wellness expert, I have never seen so many businesses and people looking for ways to manage stress and tools to incorporate wellness and wellbeing into their everyday lives.”
As a former investigative journalist, coffee addict and workaholic, Rachel experienced the impacts of a stressful lifestyle herself until she put a stop to it all and entered the wellness industry.
“Nobody knows how to live in the present anymore. Kiwis need anxiety coping mechanisms and are looking for clearer language around mental health, mindfulness and how to look after themselves, especially in light of the current Omicron outbreak in New Zealand.”
Grunwell highlights walks in the great outdoors as one of the most effective ways to manage anxiety. “The part of the brain that modulates the walking motion is the part of the brain that controls flight or fight. It’s a monotasker and can only do one thing at once, so while you are walking, you can’t be anxious.”
Born and raised in Rotorua, Grunwell has a true heart connection to this magical part of New Zealand and its people. “I grew up being surrounded by beautiful nature including Rotorua’s famous forests and geothermal springs. It’s scientifically proven that fresh air, openness, and green surroundings have a calming impact on us.”
“And that is why I also work as a wellness coach and ambassador for Polynesian Spa. As Rotorua’s iconic geothermal bathing experience, wellness and wellbeing destination, people get the chance to switch off, live in the moment, practise mindfulness and make use of the many great healing therapies the spa and its geothermal acidic and alkaline pools offer.”
By offering a rich depth of science-backed knowledge across all wellness dimensions, Grunwell has established stress-coping tools that will help you and your whānau live a happier and healthier life during and after the pandemic.
- First of all, adopt one healthy habit at a time and work on it. If you try and do everything at once, you’ll likely feel overwhelmed.
- Embrace positive thinking. How you view the world affects how you think, feel, perform and experience everything.
- Do one kind act daily, or at least weekly (no matter how small – it could just be complimenting a colleague) – this has a ripple effect.
- Practice mindfulness, live in the now. This could mean to really think about what you are eating, how you are moving, soak up your surroundings while on a walk, decrease screen time, etc.
- Spend more time in nature. It’s scientifically proven that fresh air, openness, and green surroundings have a calming impact on us. Going for walks is proven to be one of the most effective tools to manage anxiety.
- Learn about breathing exercises, attend a class or simply meditate and focus on your breathing.
- Take a hot bath before you go to sleep. At Polynesian Spa, Rachel learned the positive impacts of a hot bath for relaxation. The iconic hot pools or a hot bath at home help to relax muscles, calm the body, soothe skin, slow down the heartbeat and do wonders for your sleep quality.
