Hello, I'm Emily, a private stress counsellor/therapist, based in the beautiful towns of Thame and Chinnor in Oxfordshire. As a local therapist in the mental health arena, I understand the stressors within our community and am here to offer guidance and support. In this blog, I will share tips and suggestions to help you manage stress effectively and improve your overall well-being right here in our local area.
Stressors locally
Living near to the beautiful Chiltern Hills myself, I know the wonderful rural spaces we have on our doorstep. But being near to the tranquillity of nature doesn’t mean we are free from stressors of life.
There is still traffic on the M40 to contend with, sometimes it’s closed due to an accident which means having to find another way of getting where you need to be, perhaps taking up more time than you have available.
In Thame especially, temporary roadworks often pop up, to slow us down in our journeys.
There have been times when the road to/from Chinnor has been flooded so you have to find another route, hoping that one is not also going to be flooded.
Some of the local shops have been closed due to staff shortages, which when you’re after a much-needed coffee or just want a mooch around, is not ideal.
Perhaps you have a chronic illness/long term health condition and need an item from one of the chemists in Thame or Chinnor but the item you need still hasn’t come in?
On their own each of these things may seem trivial but you add into these your child needing a wee, you’re running low on fuel or your phone ringing and these can start to add up to be seeming like the end of the world.
How to de-stress in the Oxfordshire countryside
I’ve already mentioned above how we live in such a beautiful landscape with the Chiltern Hills on our doorstep, and we can use the surrounding nature, a free resource, to our advantage. Weather permitting, or if you’re just brave, take yourself outside, breathe in the smells of the outdoors. The choice of places around here are huge. Some of these I knew about, some I found whilst researching for this blog post.
- Chinnor Hill
- Aston Rowant Nature Reserve
- The Ridgeway
- The Phoenix Trail
- Chiltern Hills
- Cuttlebrook Nature Reserve
No doubt there are more that I don’t know about, maybe you could let me know what they are. Being outdoors you can walk your dog(s), take the kids out for some air, play a game with them, have a picnic or go for a jog. There was a recent study done that shows how much of a positive impact being out in nature can have on your mental health. If you’re exercising too, it’s a double whammy. Win, win!
Non-outdoor de-stressing ideas
Maybe you really aren’t into nature, or being in the cold wet outdoors that we often get living in England. I have some ideas for inside options that can help you locally too.
Have a tea/coffee/other beverage break in one of the many amazing cafes we have in Thame and Chinnor such as Black Goo, Cornfield Bakery, Gloria’s (Thame) or Biker Bean or Millie’s Deli (Chinnor) Cherry Tree B&B (old pub in Kingston Blount). I’d also want a piece of cake. Different surroundings and a bit of downtime for you.
Or go swimming, yes, another exercise option, I know, but you can make it a more leisurely swim rather than a race to beat your personal best. There’s Thame Leisure Centre, Chinnor Community Swimming Pool or you could travel a bit further (depending on where you live) and go to Princess Risborough and go to Risborough Springs Swim And Fitness Centre.
If these things aren’t helping and you need someone to connect with in person who will listen and empathise with you and is locally based, I am a counsellor and can work out of either Thame Barns Centre which is a stunning setting not far from the town centre or, The Village Centre in Chinnor which has its own café too.
Get in touch to book a discovery call online or if you think there is anything I’ve missed locally that could be added to this blog post.
P.S. I have not been paid by any of the companies mentioned in this post, they're just ones I've thought about that I know exist nearby.