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Friday, January 4, 2019

Make Self-Care A Priority To Combat Stress









There are many challenges to being a high-powered entrepreneur or professional in the modern economy, but there’s one that towers above the rest in the terms of its negative impact on physical and mental well-being: stress. You’ve likely struggled with it at work and afterward.

While a holiday would do wonders, it’s hardly an option except for a few times a year at best. Fortunately, there are self-care tactics you can practice every day to get the relief you need, and they’ll make you happier, healthier, and more confident to boot. Here are a few suggestions.

Go Outdoors

If you spend a few an hour in the park on your lunch break, what happens? You enjoy the sunshine while having a pleasant walk. Also, you become more relaxed as your stress levels drop and you develop a sense of connection with your surroundings, according to ZME Science. The effects are even greater if you go beyond the city to the coast or the countryside, which is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Don’t Skip Exercise

It’s tempting to cut that run or gym session out of your schedule, especially if you’ve got a lot on your plate at the moment. Don’t do that as the positive effects of physical activity far out way the negatives of spending a little time away from your desk. It reduces stress while raising your energy levels and giving you a helpful jolt of endorphins just when you need it. Moreover, scientific studies show how your immune system gets a boost so you avoid getting sidelined by a nasty cold when you need to be at your most productive. In fact, when you incorporate exercise into your self-care regimen, you can also boost your self-esteem and productivity.

Practice Meditation

There’s no point in bringing your workaday worries home with you in the evening, as that’s supposed to be your refuge of peace. Yet, that’s what happens often enough, especially if you’re under pressure to meet an approaching deadline. Mindful Minutes recommends a few minutes of rhythmic breathing soon after walking in the door or even while in the car. It’ll clear your mind so you can get the rest you need at the end of the day.

Take Up a Hobby

You were going to do something enjoyable anyway, the question is what. Television is the standard option, but there are much healthier options that would aid your mental health as you develop a skill to take pride in. A writer with Odyssey explains how learning the guitar delivered a strong sense of discipline, patience, and responsibility. If music isn’t your cup of tea, there’s also drawing, sewing, dancing, chess, carpentry -- the list goes on.

Learn to Cook

Eating well is fundamental to feeling good, and not just because it helps you stay fit and trim. Numerous studies demonstrate how getting enough vitamins, minerals, lean protein, and slow-release carbs promote higher energy, stable blood sugar levels and a better mood overall. Meanwhile, mounting evidence suggests that fast food leads to impatience, poor financial habits, and a greater likelihood of falling into depression. The lesson is simple: Learn to make your own meals with wholesome ingredients to maintain a healthy diet.

Make Time for Friends and Family

Social relationships have a remarkably positive effect on your mental health, and you ignore them at your own peril. This can happen easily if you spend too much time at work or bring it home with you by dwelling on tasks better left on your desk while you spend quality time with your loved ones. Do the latter and you’ll notice a major reduction in stress, which is also a natural result of having a chat with an old friend over a cup of coffee.

The more you engage in these activities, the more habitual they’ll become until they’re just another part of your life and you don’t have to make time. When that day comes, you’ll be at the top of your game, and that’s living right.

Image via Pixabay

Article by Julie Morris


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