Yoga - I'm always talking about yoga, but there's good reason for it. It not only helps your body look and feel good, it also reduces stress and a lot of other mental issues, like depression and PTSD.
Tea - green, chamomile, peppermint, etc... - have some tea and relax! There really are feel-good compounds in these drinks that help you relax. Chamomile, especially works almost as well as muscle relaxers.
Breathing, meditation - Similar to yoga, breathing and mediation helps focus your mind and reduces stress. I prefer yoga, but when I'm tired before bed and my mind won't stop, guided meditations are really helpful.
Music - The music you listen to can change your mood, so make sure to listen to music for how you want to feel. Listen to upbeat music to get going and calmer music to relax.
Eat well - What you put into your body definitely affects your levels of stress. Feed your body foods so that it can fight stress, not put more stress and inflammation into it. Good things to eat for stress are fruits, especially berries, greens, other vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and whole foods in general. Also, lots of water.
Baths - This is one of my favorite ways to relax and calm myself down. Add some epsom salts and oils or a bath-bomb for even more relaxation. Your muscles will release and you will feel like a new person.
Walking, exercise, dance - Exercise is my number one tip for stress relief. When I was having panic attacks a few years ago, I took a course on Coursera called The Science of Well-Being with Dr. Laurie Santos, a professor at Yale University. I learned so much about bettering my mental health from taking this course. Of all the good information, the thing I was most surprised about is how important exercise is to our happiness. It has shown to be as effective, or even more so than prescription medication. That is not at all to say that you should stop taking meds if you take them and only exercise. This is just another tool in your belt. I'm all for medications when we need them. I have medications for when I'm having a panic attack. I believe that medications are like a life-saver. Not the candy, but the little ring things. I don't always need to wear or hold on to a life saver. If you can swim, you're good without one. But if you're in the middle of the ocean drowning, you need one, so use it. That's how I feel about medication. But the thing is, with regular daily exercise, I don't need the medication. And I can feel it sneaking back up if I stop exercising as much.
Sunlight - This one is huge and it can usually be added in with exercise. If you exercise outside, you're hitting two bird with one stone, so to speak. But sunlight is super important to our bodies and our minds. We need it. I work in a room with no windows, so I've noticed over the last couple of years that I have to make a point to get outside and walk after work.
Journaling, creativity (gratitude) - Any form of artistic expression helps the mind and helps reduce stress. Painting, drawing, pottery, collage, sewing, knitting, crocheting, making jewelry or anything at all. It helps so much. It helps you feel productive but also lets you use your creative juices. Find something you love doing and try to practice at least once a week.
Cleaning and organizing - I have a feeling that what you home looks like is how the inside of your minds looks. When I walk into a house and it's a mess, I notice those friends tend to be sicker more often and have more troubles than other people with less messy homes. And is it a wonder that those friends with perfectly Instagram/Pinterest-worthy homes seem to be so on the ball at life, and somehow luckier, more good-looking and less stressed than everyone else? I think not...
Nap - I love naps. I don't get them near as often as I'd like, but when I get the chance, a nap can feel so wonderful. My favorite is a nap in the hammock on a warm afternoon. If you feel run down and tired, take a nap! If you're fighting off illness, take a nap! If you're stressed out, take a nap. Then, afterwards, you'll feel energetic enough to take on anything!
Laugh, smile - There's nothing quite like sharing a laugh with someone you love. Go out with your favorite funny friend and belly laugh over coffee or while taking a walk around the park. Watch funny movies and shows with your family. Let yourself laugh loudly (in your most hilarious laugh, perhaps) at the funny parts. Engage in a tickle-fight with your kids. It'll do everyone good.
Hug and cuddle - After the laughing is over and everyone's bellies are sore from the giggles, snuggle in for some love. Hugs are important. I've read that at least 10 every day is the bare minimum we need. I don't doubt it at all. Make sure to hug your loved ones as much as possible. Even a hug for doggo or kitty count, heck even hug a stuffed animal if you need to.
Chew gum - Chomp away the stress! I don't know why, but it works. Have you ever noticed that you crave crunchy things when you're stressed? Or how your jaw can tighten? I think there's some correlation between our jaws and our stress, and chewing gum is a good alternative to eating a bag of potato chips.
Aromatherapy - Scents can change our moods fast. Peppermint, jasmine, lavender, lemon, there are so many scents and all of them can do different things to your mood. Taking a sniff of vanilla-chamomile helps me the most. Even spritzing on some perfume works. Find what you love.
Foam rolling, self massage - If I could get a weekly massage, I would. I constantly have tight neck and back muscles, and I always have. But unfortunately I can't afford that, so self-massage and foam rolling are the next-best options. Actually, sometimes they can be even better, because you control the pressure, time, and areas you want worked on. I've paid good money for someone to rub me too lightly and nothing makes me more livid. Or other times, the masseuse is doing a great job, but leaves an area too early. Or the times just up. When you do it yourself, it's all up to you. And you can do it as often as you want.
Get social - We are social creatures. We crave it and need it. Connect with friends and family however you can right now. Having a strong social network is really important to mental health. If you don't have many friends, try to make new ones or reconnect and strengthen bonds with old friends. Even when you see someone, any random stranger you come across, give them a smile, a wave, a few words. Just a hello or a compliment. You may never see them again, but it will boost your mood.
Play games, do puzzles - There's a reason we can all waste hours of our lives on Candy Crush (actually I play Simon's Cat Crunch Time) or video games. They relax us. They take us away from our lives, out of our own minds, and make us focus on something else. I recommend a game or puzzle daily and there are so many options! Video, computer and phone games work, but so do physical puzzles, board and card games with family and friends (another chance to be social!) Even games and puzzles like Sudoku, crosswords, word searches, and the like are great ways to boost your brain power while overcoming stress.
Read - Another way to get out of your own head is to get into someone else's. Putting yourself in the middle of a different world with a book is so important for mental health. Reading fiction can help us empathize better with other people. Even non-fiction will take your mind away from your own problems while teaching you something new. Self-help can also serve the function of giving you new tools to combat stress.
Acts of kindness - We're made to be social, as noted before. Acts of kindness is a way to take our social aspects even higher. Giving makes us feel great! It actually helps our moods even more than getting something. So make sure to commit acts of kindness regularly. Pick up trash in your neighborhood (wear gloves and use a grabber!) Pay for the person behind you at the drive-through, or the person next to you at a restaurant. Randomly hand someone a 5, 10 or 20 dollar bill. Pet the neighbor's cat or dog (if it's safe, check with them first.) Offer your neighbor a hand taking in groceries. Write letters to people in a local nursing home. Tip extra. Give co-workers little gifts, like their favorite drink or snack. Be creative!
Dress up, do hair and makeup - I believe that when we look good, we feel good. Sure, maybe it's vain, but it's true, at least for me. When I feel like I look great, I'm more confident. I'm happier. So make sure to do your hair and makeup. It doesn't have to take a long time, even just a coat a mascara and little lipstick can do the trick. Styling my hair takes 10-15 minutes, and I do it while watching Jeopardy on my phone. And it's definitely worth it to me.
Treat yourself (face mask, foot scrub, do nails) - Similarly, taking care of the little things can give you confidence and make you feel like a million bucks. Having well-groomed and painted nails makes me feel pretty and put together. Conversely, if my nails are ragged I feel like a mess. I love taking a little extra time to polish my feet and put lotion on before I put on a pair of socks. It keeps my feet smooth and supple. In the winter, when my hands get dry I put on lotion and wear gloves to bed too. Face masks are another way to unwind for me. They make me feel luxurious and they make my skin look and feel amazing too.
Be productive - Nothing is as stressful as having a list of things to accomplish. So get started on it! If you have something due, get started on it ASAP. If you break it up into smaller chunks, you'll get it done with much less stress than if you wait and have to do it all at once.
Sing - Belt "Let it Go" as loud as you can and see if you don't feel a little less stressed. Choose whatever songs you love and sing. My favorite places to sing are in the car and in the shower.
Garden - Gardening is so stress-relieving and you get free produce out of it too! If you have access, start a garden.
Hygge (lighting, coziness, warmth, closeness) - This is one of my favorites on the list, and it's one of the easiest, too. Just simply by lighting a candle, you can change the mood of your home. Light a few and turn out the lights for a relaxing and fun dinner. Make sure to fill your home with things that make it feel snuggly, cuddly, cozy and happy. I love big furry blankets (Nicknamed "Game of Thrones blankets chez moi." Wooden and earthy elements help too.
Anything else I should add? Let me know below!
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