Tips to De-Stress

Did you know that April is Stress Awareness month? It’s so fitting for my life right now because I’ve been under a lot of stress with work and what not. I know I’ve shared this before, but I’m a planner…a “to-doer” … a “what-ifer”… a perfectionist… a “Type A” personality type of girl! I blame it on being a Virgo! With all jokes aside, stress and knowing how to deal with it is a serious issue.

Getting diagnosed with celiac disease really threw me a curve ball… being sick definitely wasn’t in my life plan! Since the reality is I have an autoimmune disease, I’ve been trying really hard to learn how to manage my stress because I’ve been told by countless people (including my doctors) that stress is the worst thing for my health.

Ways I De-Stress:

Make a List:

Often times I get stressed out when I have a lot to do or a lot on my mind. I used to constantly wake up in the night thinking of everything I needed to do and hoping not to forget anything. Now I keep a notepad inside my nightstand drawer and before I go to bed I write down a list of things I need to do the next day. I swear this has been life changing! Now I no longer wake up in the night worrying about what needs to get done since it’s already written down and I know I won’t forget anything!

Exercise:

This is a biggy for me. Nothing alleviates stress for me more than exercise. I always say Pure Barre is my “therapy”. It’s the one hour out of my day where I focus on myself enjoy the mind-body connection. I also do love putting my headphones in, playing loud music and doing some sort of cardio.

Take a Bath:

This is a time I like to leave the electronics in another room and just relax. Sometimes I’ll read a book in the bath, other times I will just enjoy some quiet time.

Meditate:

I’ve downloaded a few guided meditation apps on my phone that I use often. I like to go into a quiet room with no distractions and follow along. I really swear by this!

Remind myself “If I can’t change it right now, don’t stress about it”:

This is easier said than done, but I’ve been working on this one a lot lately! Stepping back from a situation and putting things into perspective really helps.

When I’m stressed, the last thing I feel like I can do is sleep because I often feel anxious when I’m stressed. This lack of sleep leads to being tired which then leads to not thinking clearly and then more stress… it’s a vicious cycle! Basically for me stress all leads back to a lack of sleep.

With that being said, naps are very helpful to rejuvenate our minds and bodies. Did you know there are certain healthy foods promote sleep?! For the most part I always try to eat healthy, but this is especially important when I’m stressed out so I can sleep better and not get sick!

Below is a graphic on how to execute a good nap. Casper believes that a good nap and a good night’s rest are essential to a productive day. Something as simple as upgrading your sleep products can turn your thoughts on sleep around! Here is a graphic all about naps:

I hope some of these tips help you!

Question:

What do you do to decrease your stress? Please share!

Infographic provided by: Casper Sleep Inc.

Today I’m linking here. and here.