'Small steps make a big difference' - Expert shares one simple tip to de-stress this April

As Stress Awareness Month shines a spotlight on the growing mental health challenges facing people today, renowned GP, TEDx speaker, author, and wellbeing expert Dr Mark Rowe is inspiring a fresh, powerful approach to managing stress: Learning to PAUSE.

Based in Waterford, Dr. Rowe has long been a leader in promoting resilience, emotional well-being, and sustainable health.

This month, he’s sharing a simple but transformational message — by learning to pause, people can dramatically reduce their stress and reconnect with a greater sense of balance and purpose.

“Stress is part of life, but how we respond to it makes all the difference,” says Dr. Rowe. “By building intentional pauses into our day — moments to breathe, reflect, and reset — we can break the cycle of constant busyness and overwhelm.”

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Dr. Rowe's PAUSE method encourages people to:

• Pause and pay attention to the present moment
• Awareness and attention - notice how you are feeling
• Understand and appreciate that you are separate from your feelings
• Simply breathe - slow it down
• Exhale - release tension and toxic stress

Drawing from decades of experience in medicine and well-being science, Dr. Rowe’s advice is both practical and deeply human. His approach offers a counterbalance to the relentless pace of modern life, empowering individuals to thrive instead of merely survive.

“Small steps make a big difference,” Dr. Rowe explains. “A few minutes a day to pause can recalibrate your mindset, lower your cortisol levels, and help you build emotional strength over time.”

To mark Stress Awareness Month, Dr Rowe has updated his series of free online talks, blogs and podcasts, sharing his well-being tips for all freely on www.drmarkrowe.com.

His aim is simple: to help as many people as possible reclaim their calm, strengthen their resilience, and live more meaningful, joyful lives.