Privacy Policy
Your privacy matters to us. This policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, what we do with it, and what choices you have. We have tried to write it in plain English.
Who we are
How Can I Relieve Stress? is an informational website about everyday stress relief, available at howcanirelievestress.com. For the purposes of data protection law, the data controller is:
The data controller for this website is the site owner, contactable by post at the postal address published on our Contact page and by email at hello@howcanirelievestress.com.
You can contact us about privacy matters at hello@howcanirelievestress.com.
What information we collect
Newsletter sign-up
If you subscribe to our email newsletter, we collect your first name and email address. We use this information only to send you the newsletter and related communications you have signed up for.
Analytics
We do not currently run any analytics on this site. No third-party analytics script is installed, and we do not build visitor profiles. If we add analytics later we will name the provider here, describe what it collects, and update the date at the top of this page before switching it on.
Advertising cookies
We do not currently show display advertising, and no advertising network sets cookies through this site. If that changes we will name the network here and put appropriate consent controls in place first.
Contact messages
If you contact us by email or through our contact form, we will store the content of your message and your email address in order to reply to you. We do not add you to any mailing list as a result of you contacting us.
Purchases
If you purchase a digital product from us, payment is handled by our payment processor. We do not store your card details. We will retain a record of the transaction (your email address, what was purchased, and the date) for accounting and customer support purposes.
How we use your information
We use the information we collect to:
- Send you the newsletter and updates you have subscribed to
- Respond to messages you send us
- Fulfil and support purchases of our digital products
- Understand how visitors use the site so we can improve it
- Display advertising (once that feature is active)
We do not sell your personal data to anyone. We do not share your data with third parties except as described in this policy (our email provider, analytics provider, and payment processor).
Our email provider
We use Kit (formerly ConvertKit) to manage our newsletter list and send emails. Kit stores your name and email address on our behalf on their servers, which are based in the United States. Kit is GDPR-compliant and participates in appropriate data transfer mechanisms. You can read Kit's privacy policy at kit.com/privacy.
How long we keep your data
- Newsletter subscribers — your name and email remain on our list until you unsubscribe. After you unsubscribe, your data is deleted from our active list within a reasonable period, in line with Kit's standard processes.
- Contact messages — we keep email correspondence for as long as is reasonably necessary to manage the enquiry, then delete it.
- Purchase records — retained for as long as required for accounting and legal purposes, for the period your local tax and accounting rules require, which in most countries is between five and seven years.
- Analytics data — retained according to the settings and policies of our analytics provider.
How to unsubscribe from emails
Every newsletter we send includes an unsubscribe link at the bottom. Click it and you will be removed from our list. You can also email us at hello@howcanirelievestress.com and ask to be removed, and we will action it promptly.
Cookies
Cookies are small text files that websites store on your device. We use them for:
- Analytics — to understand how the site is used (see above).
- Advertising — once display ads are running, our ad network may use cookies to serve relevant ads.
- Functionality — for example, remembering your cookie preferences.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers let you block or delete cookies. Note that blocking some cookies may affect how parts of the site work. You can also use our cookie consent tool (shown when you first visit the site) to manage your preferences.
Children's privacy
This site is not directed at children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 13. Where we publish content on topics relevant to teenagers — such as school stress or exam anxiety — that content is written for a general audience and is not targeted specifically at under-13s. If you believe a child under 13 has submitted personal data to us, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.
International visitors
This site is accessible worldwide. If you are visiting from outside the country where this site is operated, please be aware that your data may be transferred to and processed in a country with different data protection laws. We take reasonable steps to ensure that transfers are handled appropriately.
Your rights
GDPR and UK GDPR (EEA and UK visitors)
If you are in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom, you have the right to:
- Access the personal data we hold about you
- Ask us to correct inaccurate data
- Ask us to delete your data
- Object to or restrict how we process your data
- Request a copy of your data in a portable format
- Withdraw consent at any time where we rely on consent (for example, newsletter subscription)
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@howcanirelievestress.com. We will respond within one month. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your national data protection authority.
CCPA (California residents)
If you are a California resident, you have the right to know what personal information we collect about you and how we use it, to request deletion of your personal information, and to opt out of the sale of your personal information. We do not sell personal information. To make a request, email us at hello@howcanirelievestress.com.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the date at the top of this page. Material changes will be noted clearly. We encourage you to check this page periodically.
Contact us about privacy
If you have any questions or concerns about how we handle your data, please email us at hello@howcanirelievestress.com.