So you had stressful day, and you think your evening is ruined. Not so fast there gorgeous! Stress is bad for your mood. It’s bad for your complexion, and it has a pretty significant impact on your health. While you can’t always avoid stressful situations, you can reduce the impact that stress has on your heart, mind, and body.
A few simple self-care habits, performed at the end of your work day, can help you to look and feel better.
Let’s get to those tips…
Child’s Pose
Child’s pose is a yoga relaxation pose. When you come home, get into your comfortable clothing (or just strip down and do it in your undies). Sit on the floor or on your bed with your knees bent and your legs tucked under you. Fold your body forward so your torso is resting on your thighs and your head is on the ground.
Generally, it’s more comfortable to keep your arms down at your sides however you can stretch them out in front of you if that’s more comfortable. Breathe deeply and relax into the pose. If child’s pose doesn’t feel good on your knees or hips, try corpse pose. Lay on your back with your arms at your sides. Breathe deeply and feel the ground supporting you.
Journal
Journaling is a way of letting it all hang out. You can complain, you can scream, you can say the terrible things that you wanted to say to people. It’s a safe venting practice. No one will ever know how much they bother you and stress you out. You can say all of the things that you want to say to your boss or your mother in law. It’s safe.
And when you’re done journaling, you can close the book and let it go. The stress stays inside those pages. You can also strive to end your journaling session on a positive note by writing a few sentences about what went well today, what you’re grateful for, and what you’re looking forward to.
Meditate
You knew that was coming, right? Meditation is probably the single most effective stress buster that there is. It’s great for your mind and it’s been shown to increase longevity. Get quiet for five to fifteen minutes each day and live longer!
Exercise
You don’t have to bust out a 5k personal record when you get home. Of course, you can, if you feel like it. You can also simply change your shoes and go for a nice walk. The fresh air and increased blood flow will help you release stress. Hubby and I have gotten into the routine of walking at the end of the day and we’ve found it’s a great way to unwind and starting relaxing for the evening.
Sing (and Dance)
Singing and dancing make us smile, and happiness generally feels like the opposite of stress. Find your favorite tunes and let loose for a few minutes when you get home.
Other Tips to Unwind from a Stressful Day
If you didn’t find the first five tips to be interesting to you, try one of these…
Phone a friend, watching videos or a TV show that makes you laugh (for me it would me “I Love Lucy”, “Seinfeld”, or “Big Bang Theory”). Have a glass of wine or a beverage you really enjoy, even a cold Pellegrino can do the trick.
I want you to create a stress relief habit for yourself, you’ll live a happier and more fulfilling life. And you live longer and look better doing it.
xTheresa
