Nobody likes feeling stressed out- that’s obvious. When we’re stressed out, we don’t sleep well, our relationships take a toll, our weight fluctuates, our skin breaks out and ages faster…and all of that on top of the fact that it just doesn’t feel good. But many of us make the mistake of thinking long-term stress is just part of this day and age, something we will forever live with that cannot be prevented. Listen to this: that’s not true. Though stress is something we will encounter, and it can add value to our lives, there is a way to make it through stressful situations without damaging ourselves as deeply, and there is a way to prevent stress from coming up so often. Here are some tips on how to take care of your mind and body, and relax:
1. Find out what energizes you and what drains you. Do you thrive on alone time, or are you energized by being with friends? Do you feel refreshed by a good book? Do you start off the day better with a hot shower in the morning? Make it a routine to get back into old hobbies that used to relax you that you’ve forgotten about in your busy weeks. Commit to adding in more of the things that energize you and cutting back on things that drain you.
- Set up an environment that you can call home: Try adding some dim, calming lighting in your living room or turning on peaceful music when you get home in the evenings. Personalize your space with items or photos that are meaningful to you. Try to do your work life and home life in different locations so that after a stressful day of work, you can come home to a new environment with a new mindset.
- You hear this one a lot, but it really does make a difference: Make sure you’re taking care of your body physically. Put in the effort and time to eat well. Make it a discipline to have a regular bedtime and get about eight hours of sleep. Spend time every day doing something active- even if it is just a ten minute walk or a short yoga routine. It’s the small things that make a big difference.
- Finally, don’t try to battle everything alone. Push yourself to open up to someone if your stress is more than you can handle easily. You’ll be amazed at the relief you can find when someone else understands what you’re going through.
Though we will inevitably encounter some stress (or a lot of stress) in our lives, these are some tips to lessen the damage, and leave you with a happy body and beautiful skin!