April is Stress Awareness Month. This is a time to bring awareness to an emotion we have all felt. Stress is your body’s reaction to the pressures of everyday life. It is natural to feel stress at times but it’s important to find healthy, manageable ways to deal with stress. Keep reading for some tips and tricks to help make stress more manageable.
Make Time For Self-Care
When life gets hectic it can feel like you have no time for yourself. This is when it is especially important to take a break and focus on yourself. Self-care is a great first step to dealing with any stress you might experience. Self-care is the intentional act of caring for yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally. With that being said self-care can come in many different forms; it encompasses anything that helps us pause, relax, and recharge. Self-care can be:
- Listening to your favorite music
- Start a skincare routine
- Organize or rearrange your space
- Exercising and stretching
- Buy yourself flowers
- Cook or order your favorite meal
Find Fun Ways To Stay Active
Exercise and diet should always be an important part of life. When stress becomes too much to deal with we may forget to exercise and take care of ourselves physically. Exercise is a powerful form of stress relief. Exercise releases endorphins and feel-good hormones which are natural stress-relievers. To get you excited about exercising again try something new such as:
- Go swimming indoors or outdoors
- Join or start a walking club
- Hula hoop
- Walk your dog or walk a friend’s dog
- Master the art of yoga
For more exercise tips check out our article on “Exercise Tips for Seniors”
Take A Breath
It may seem like the easiest thing to do but sometimes we forget to stop and take a breath. However with a busy schedule it can feel like you’re on the go constantly. Don’t forget to stop and “smell the roses”. Sometimes the simplest things can make a world of difference. When you’re having a stressful day take a few minutes out of your day and breathe.