4 Essential Tips for De-Stressing Your Life

2020 has been full of curveballs in terms of public health and political stress. On International Stress Awareness Day, I wanted to highlight the importance of taking care of your health during stressful times in your life.

Read these 4 essential tips for de-stressing your life:

Eat the Rainbow
Having a balanced diet that is catered to what your body needs is essential to keep your stress levels low. Eat a myriad of foods, such as greens, protein, and fruits, to keep your body running as well as it should. Pay attention to the foods that don’t sit well in your stomach or cause your stress levels to rise, and start cutting them out of your diet if need be. Caffeine may be a trigger for your stress, so keep an eye on your diet and keep a journal of your stress. 

Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is arguably the most important aspect of having a peaceful life. Everyone’s sleep needs are not equal, so give yourself a set time to get enough sleep for your body, and go from there. You may find that you only need 7 hours, whereas others may feel better after 8 or 9. To get a restful sleep, be sure to turn off electronics an hour before bedtime to let your mind wind down naturally. 

Keep Moving
Though the fall months have breezed in with cooler weather and shorter days, that doesn’t mean you should give up your daily exercise routine. Take advantage of the fall weather and head outside for some sun-filled exercise. For an active at-home routine, try using weights and strength exercises like squats and crunches to keep your body moving. Another great benefit to exercise is that it helps focus and clear your mind. Taking a walk can allow you to regroup and de-stress your mind, while more intensive exercise can help your brain focus on just the activity at-hand. 

Make Time For You
From working at home, to handing virtual learning, and pretty much every other activity in between that has left us confined to our homes this year, it is more important than ever to take time for you. Whether that means setting aside a few minutes at the end of the day to read a book, watching your favorite TV show after dinner, or meditating before bed, you will notice a difference in your stress levels by using that time to decompress. It is very difficult to manage all of the stressors in your life without any pause time, especially during this time of distress. You are your most important asset, and you need to take care of yourself in stressful times so you do not burnout. 

You’ll notice a common theme among these tips: listen to your body. You know what your body needs to function properly, and chances are it’s telling you what it needs and doesn’t need, but are you listening? Let’s end 2020 with our priorities being on de-stressing our lives and with these essential ways to manage your stress levels. If you find that your stress is causing physical pain, Virginia Spine Institute can help you work through it. Schedule a consultation with us, and let us get you back to living a better quality of life.