Five Ways to De-stress at Home
The increasingly fast-paced world we live in gives us opportunities for growth and development that were never available to the generations before us. Today we can run our own businesses, travel the world, raise families and achieve personal goals… so what’s the problem? Stress.
A hectic schedule with no downtime might be a great way to rush through the mounting to-do list but stress can have a hugely negative impact on both mental and physical health, so taking some time out to recharge your batteries and unwind at the end of a busy week is important.
The idea of self-care is becoming more and more talked about as our society combats the negative effects of stress and anxiety, and the benefits of taking the time to know your limits and prevent burnout have been widely discussed.
Today we’re going to share five ways you can de-stress at home and get your mojo back.
1 – Breathe
The idea of taking time out of your day to focus on your breathing might seem alien but breathing exercises have been proven to rebuild parts of the body that are most affected by stress – they can lower blood pressure and trick the body into believing it’s already relaxed. Taking deep, purposeful breaths is a great place to start but there are plenty of short, guided breathing meditations to help you learn the basics.
2 – Move
Take some time to think about how much you (honestly) move your body each day. Is the most exercise you get the walk between your car and the office? Exercise is a huge stress reliever and regular workouts can prevent stress levels rising in the future. You don’t need to a run a marathon or be in the gym for two hours a day to feel the positive benefits of exercise – if fitness isn’t your thing then try power walking with a friend (bonus points for getting some fresh air at the same time) or following a fitness channel on YouTube. It doesn’t matter how you move your body, it just matters that you’re moving it.
3 – Cut Back on Screen Time
Social media, texting, online shopping, Netflix…it seems as though every activity we default to when we’re stressed involves staring at a screen, usually after already staring at a screen for eight hours during the working day. Excessive computer use is regularly linked to stress, particularly when used at night, so it’s important to take time away from your computer and phone and enjoy hobbies that don’t involve screens. Reading, listening to music, taking a bubble bath or enjoying a glass of wine with friends are all ways you can unwind without needing to look at a screen for a single second.
4 – Nourish Your Body
Filling your body with the right food has unparalleled benefits to health and wellness and, conversely, filling your body with junk can make stress even harder to handle. We’re not saying you have to go on a strict régime that bans chocolate, carbs and cheese (ah, the three Cs) but cooking fresh, healthy meals from scratch is a great way to eat more mindfully and ensure your body is getting what it needs.
Dark leafy greens, salmon and blueberries have all been proven to boost your mood and combat the symptoms of both anxiety and stress, so they’re a great place to start.
5 – Forget ‘Should’
So often the source of stress comes down to all the things you think you should be doing. How many times do you find yourself worrying about something you don’t want to do but feel like you should be doing? Take some time to think about the obligations in your life that make you the most stressed and work out whether these are things you want to do, need to do, or think you should do.
We give you full permission to trim back the should dos from your life so you can focus on what really matters.
