Hi all. Welcome back to the blog! The beginning months of a year can be challenging and a little overwhelming for many. Usually, before spring starts, I tend to feel some stress build-up. So for this week‘s blog post, I have gathered a few of my latest favorite methods and tips that help me relieve stress and feel more at ease.
1) Establish an unwinding routine
Every single day, I look forward to my evening unwinding routine because it's so relaxing. When you create that routine for yourself where you close the laptop for the day, or you put a pause on reading the emails, it helps you manage the stress in your life. When it comes to my calming routine, I will usually take a warm shower to release tension in the muscles. I love to take my time for skincare because skincare is self-care. Some days, I love to give myself a little facial, use my face steamer and even do a face mask. Doing those small self-care things for yourself is so worth it and it has the biggest impact on your mental health. Another part of my unwinding routine is watching a show that I love, or it's doing some coloring, or it's doing some meditation. I encourage you to create that time and space to decompress each day. Because it's the routine of having an unwinding time every day that helps minimize stress the most.
2) Practicing your hobbies
Lately, I have found so much calmness arise from just practicing my hobbies. When you're doing things that seriously bring you joy, your serotonin increases, and that stress hormone, cortisol, goes down. I love to color digitally; I find that the repetition of patterns and designs is extremely therapeutic. Another one of my hobbies that brings about peace for me is working on my personal brand :) Find those hobbies or passion projects that seriously bring you happiness, and trust me, your stress will automatically decrease.
3) Try some guided meditations
A lot of mental and physical anxiety can come from the fact that we are thinking about the future. Practicing mediation helps calm those worrisome thoughts by bringing you back into this present moment through the use of breath and imagery tools. I love the Breethe App, because I can customize my meditation experience based on what I need. For example, if you need help with anxiety and stress management, or if you‘re struggling with sleep, the app will generate a list of medications for your needs. I love to meditate in a quiet space, usually with headphones because I feel that the effect of the calming music and the guided mediation is greater. These guided meditations are a great way to find what is causing the anxiety and to help relieve it in the mind and body through deep breathing techniques.
4) Find small moments of joy each day
For me, my happiness each day comes from the small things and things to look forward to. Like spending time with family, sharing a laugh with a friend, playing with my dog, going for a walk, listening to music. Finding those little moments of joy each day can really bring down the fluctuations of stress that present themselves in your day. Integrate those little activities that boost the serotonin for your own mental health.
5) Take breaks continuously
I find it so beneficial to take breaks throughout the day. There is truly power in taking breaks that benefits our mental and physical wellness. Humans aren't designed to sit at a desk 24/7, so it's crucially important that you take time away from your working environment to take a breather. For example, practicing some of your hobbies is a great way to take your mind away from the stressors, but rather helps focus your mind on something that brings you joy. Taking breaks is an effective way to bring down the cortisol level in your body continuously throughout the day.
If you're ever feeling a little bit of stress this week, I recommend trying one of these tips to help you feel calmer and more grounded. Remember to prioritize self-care and to maintain a positive mindset!
Xo,
Esha
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