Z. Johnson
Stres is no joke. We’ve all been through some level of stress in our lives. From the daily routines of getting work done, facing obstacles, finding motivation each day to keep going and now living a new “normal” life in 2020 during a pandemic. I’m the type of person that tries to avoid stress at all costs. That’s the reason why I came up with some of the best wellness tips to get through it. But, I’ve also found that sometimes stress can motivate me to get out of a certain situation or strive. Yes! Believe it or not, stress can help us grow as humans.
However, we know that too much stress is not good in the long run. We know that stress brings not only anxiety but can also have negative consequences in our mental wellbeing and physical bodies. Sometimes, you just have to listen to your body and know when things are not ok. Especially during this year 2020, I’m sure you can agree with me that it has brought more stress than usual to our lives. But, there’s still good news, at least on how to cope and relieve stress. I think I’ve become like a scientist trying to discover different unique ways to cope with stress without going crazy (lol!). So, today, I’m sharing some of my top wellness tips to relieve stress and anxiety.
Healthy balanced eating is key
This is a golden rule for me folks! I’m sure you’ve heard about this before, but let me stress out why it’s important to have a healthy eating lifestyle. When you eat nourishing whole foods, you feed your body with the essentials to keep it working right. This helps your body keep your hormones under control. In fact, anxiety and stress eating are not only emotional, but also linked to us constantly feeding our bodies with overprocessed foods. It’s important to eat well, get enough protein, fiber rich foods, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. This will reduce the sugar cravings, will help you stay fit and will boost your wellbeing.
Stay physically active!
One of my favorites and a must! Working out regularly is essential to keep your body fit, make you release all those toxins and boost your metabolism. Regular exercise helps to burn fat, tone your muscles and release happiness hormones. That ‘s right! Besides feeling more energized, you will relieve all that stress and reduce that anxiety. You can check out more here about how to reduce stress and anxiety with fitness. I also prepared a full guide on some of my best at home workouts to stay fit.
Gratitude is one of the best wellness tips
I don’t know about you, but this has been the greatest thing I’ve learned to do this year in terms of wellness. Being grateful for things I have and achieved was something I used to take for granted. Now, I practice gratitude more regularly. Let’s face it, this year has definitely been a huge challenge, and now when I look back at things we used to have freely before quarantine life, I consider those blessings. Being able to spend time with loved ones, travel, hug and kiss people, be healthy, or have an income are things worth cherishing. Stress comes from worrying about what you’re lacking. Being grateful for what I have instead of worrying about what I don’t have yet helped me stay sane.
Wellness tips rule: Prioritize sleep
Sleeping enough is a sure way to not only feel relieved, but also helps you get more clarity and focus. It’s been proven already that not having enough sleep can cause us to have food anxiety, excess cravings, more cortisol (hormone that causes our body to store fat), and mood problems. I always aim to sleep at least 8 hours. Your body needs to rest so that you can feel better and perform better the next day. I know that stress can cause you to sleep less, but if you focus on yourself first and practice self care, then sleep should become a priority as well.
Practice your favorite hobby
I like to listen to music, workout, sing and even be on outdoors, by myself. It’s so relaxing, and trust me, also stress relieving. When you focus on doing things that you enjoy, then your brain stimulates more pleasure and happiness. Maybe you enjoy reading a book, painting or walking your pet. Whatever it is, make space to practice what makes you happy.
Spend time with the people you love
Spending time with the people you love creates emotional bond and support during stressful times. Apart from that, staying connected with your loved ones gives you that sense of relief. If you’re feeling stressed, calling that friend or having that family conversation can be a huge help. Never underestimate the power of love to relieve anxiety and stress.
Another of my favorite wellness tips: Take time to pamper yourself
Who doesn’t like to take a day to just lay on the couch, watch a movie, get your nails done or simply take a massage? We often tend to overlook simple things like these, because we think is just being selfish and not taking time out for the important things. But actually, doing these things is also important. Being “selfish” matters. If it’s for the sake of your own wellbeing, you shouldn’t disregard taking time out just for you. Here are some tips on how to stay healthy while being at home.
Wellnesss tips to consider: Explore nature
There is proof that being in touch with nature is one of the best experiences someone can have. It’s one of my favorite wellness tips because I’ve noticed improvement in my physical and mental health. Going for a walk, taking a hike or simply going to the beach helps us feel more relaxed and forget about issues. I am a true nature lover! I absolutely love being outdoors exploring nature, even by myself, of course, staying safe!
Keep a positive attitude
When you have a positive attitude makes things feel better. Staying positive despite the uncertainty, and other situations will make us strive. Positivity has the same impact in our minds as gratitude. Being positive doesn’t mean that you don’t have problems, but you know rather that things will be ok and there will be better days ahead. Remember that all situations are temporary, so just embrace what you have right now and believe in the process. Also, having a healthy mindset is essential to boost a healthy weight.
Stay away from substance abuse
Wellness tips rule #10! Do not, I repeat, do not rely on substances like alcohol or drugs to treat anxiety! Sometimes it’s good to have a glass of wine, to your own pleasure or you can enjoy your margaritas socially. But going overboard on drinking when you are stressed can actually become a serious substance abuse. You don’t want to become an alcoholic or drug addict. Every extreme is bad. Therefore, if you need the urge to be getting drunk to forget about your stressful situations, look for help.
Wellness tips you can’t miss: Pray/ Meditate
As a believer, I rely on God as my provider and the one to give me strength each day. I think that having spiritual health is essential to help you stay resilient, hopeful and go through all your stressful situations. Meditation is also a powerful tool for your wellbeing. It is one of my favorite wellness tips, because I found that meditation helps to strengthen your physical body, boost your immune system and heal your soul.
Engage in activities that make you laugh
The truth is laughing is a daily therapy to promote happiness and relieve stress. One of the best wellness tips is to do things that make you stay happy. When you watch a comedy, laugh with a friend or enjoy silly jokes, your body releases a lot of endorphins, which make you feel good and relieve anxiety.
Wellness tips golden rule: Make self-care a priority
When you take your self care as a priority, you not only promote more self love, but you give room to more happiness. In my previous post about self care, I emphasize a lot on some of the things I do regularly that work for my well being. Another thing I do to help me avoid too much stress is practicing a healthy mindset towards fitness. There is too much going in the world to be worrying about having food anxiety, body image issues and workout obsession. But, on the other hand, fitness is beneficial for your mental health. Just learn how to do it the right way. Here you can read more about it.
Keep a journal
I am going to be honest with this. I don’t journal regularly. And by journaling, I mean like writing down things every single day. However, I keep track of the most meaningful things that happen in my life. Sometimes, keeping a journal of nice memories or things we love doing just helps us to stay focused on the right mindset. Other people suggest that if you feel too stressed, writing down what bothers you and how you’ll want to solve it will make a difference. You do what’s best for you.
Visualize/ manifest your goals and future dreams
When you visualize what you want for your future, and you see yourself in a better place than where you are, you are focusing on things that bring you pleasure and motivate you to move forward. I’ve been doing this for a while and just remember that things happen for a reason. One of the best wellness tips to stay sane is to manifest the type of life you want to live in terms of your wellness. And forget about perfection. Consistency in everything we do is what matters in the end.
In short…
Living a healthier life without too much stress and anxiety is possible. Stress will always be around no matter what we do, we are humans. But, you can defeat the negative effects of excessive stress by following these wellness tips. Focus on yourself, take care of your body and mental health. Let me know your thoughts about how you manage stress in the comments sections below. Share this with someone you care about!
