Self-Care Tips to Manage Stress

Life is very stressful, sometimes. Even the calmest people aren’t immune to feeling stressed. After all, it’s a normal response that has been part of human evolution for a very long time. Unfortunately, there’s no way to avoid stress. With work obligations, family needs, and a full social calendar, stress and frustration is going to be inevitable at some point. Luckily, there are several ways to mitigate your feelings of anxiety and stress by taking advantage of some self-care rituals.

Get enough exercise

One of the best ways to manage your stress is by getting out and being active. If you need an event to motivate you, you can sign up for an easy, beginner event or training regimen like a Couch to 5k. Just make sure you pick up some women’s or men’s running shoes that are appropriate for you and start slowly. Remember not to bite off more than you can chew and start with small distances first before you build up to longer distance events. If you begin your training with unrealistic goals, it can be extremely discouraging and make you more likely to give up.

You can also try at-home yoga workouts or go for bike rides if you hate running. The most important part of your exercise regimen is that you choose activities that you will actually stick to.

Or, if you don’t like formal events or lots of structure to your workouts, you can simply incorporate hikes and walks into your daily routine. These low-impact exercises allow you to explore new parts of your neighborhood or city, while getting your heart rate up.

You can even wear a fitness tracker to keep you moving throughout the day and set goals for yourself.

Ideally, you’ll exercise once a day for a minimum of thirty minutes – but don’t get too hung up on the time commitment. Any amount of activity and exercise is better than none.

Prioritize sleep

Sleep is one of the first parts of your health that takes a nosedive if you’re stressed and busy. However, if you can make sleep a priority, it can provide a serious mental boost. Adequate sleep gives your body time to rest and restore itself so you can feel prepared for whatever the day has in store for you.

To get better sleep, make sure you follow some basic rules like the ones below:

1. Avoid blue light at least two hours before bedtime.
2. Take a warm bath or shower 90 minutes before going to sleep.
3. Wind down with some easy stretches and soft music.
4. Take melatonin or another non-habit-forming sleep supplement.
5. Drink a warm cup of chamomile tea or lavender tea.
6. Avoid eating heavy meals at night.
7. Avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol in the evening.

Eat nutritiously

Eating well is easier said than done, but the right nutrition can have a positive effect on your mental well-being. If you feel like you’re struggling to cook and end up relying on eating out or fast food for your meals, you may want to invest in a meal delivery service.

You can choose a service that provides you with fully cooked meals that you just have to thaw. Or, you can also opt for a meal kit that provides you with all the necessary ingredients and your sole job is to assemble and cook. Either way, eating well doesn’t have to be hard. Just focus on eating smaller portions with lots of fruits and veggies. Try to fill up on fiber-rich and protein-rich foods that offer more satisfaction than empty carbs that will simply just spike your blood sugar and make you feel even hungrier .

Conclusion: It’s time to take care of yourself and send your stress packing

Everybody deals with stress at some points but if you feel like you’re having trouble dealing with chronic stress, it’s important to make changes in your day-to-day life to manage it. Start by exercising in the morning to start your day off right, eat foods that properly fuel your body, and prioritize sleep so your brain and body have adequate time to recover. With these tips in hand, you can approach life more positively and with much less stress. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get your namaste on.