February is the month of love, right? I mean, Valentine’s Day is in February and we all love that day, right? (Insert sarcastic snort here). One of my lovely patients told me that every February she focuses on self-care and self-love.
What an absolutely fantastic idea!
To that end, I have a list of 31 ways to reduce stress in your life and to take better care of yourself.
- Sleep in
- Nap occasionally
- Take a long shower
- Enjoy a relaxing bath
- Hike in nature
- Take a break from social media
- Meditate
- Embrace aromatherapy. Lavender is said to reduce cortisol levels and there are other scents that can have a similar impact
- Get a massage
- Get acupuncture (unless you’re freaked out by needles)
- Get a manicure or pedicure
- Get a facial
- Have sex
- Hug someone
- Paint, draw, or express yourself creatively
- Spend time with family that you like
- Get organized (or hire someone to help you get organized)
- Find a hot tub or hot springs and soak
- Spend time in a sauna
- Leave your cell phone behind
- Take a day off, really take a day off, and do things that you love to do
- Forget about multitasking (it doesn’t really work, and it sucks)
- Wear clothing with textures that make you feel embraced and comfy
- Pay attention to your self-talk. Simple things like shifting your language from statements like “I really blew that” to “I did the best I could, and I learned some things to apply next time” can make a huge difference in your stress level.
- Wash your hands. It’s flu season, folks! Don’t make your body have to fight extra germs to keep you healthy.
- Don’t cook dinner. Get take out or delivery.
- Find active games that you enjoy and go play with friends. This might be anything from joining your local softball league to learning to surf.
- Get away from people who stress you out
- Turn off the news
- Make your bed a happy and luxurious place to be.
- Limit screen time. Watch less television and spend more time on activities that engage your body and brain
Let February be the month that you start taking better care of yourself. It will reduce stress and ultimately improve your health and happiness. chronic stress levels cause weight gain, inflammation, chronic hunger, blood sugar issues, insomnia, illness, fatigue, depression and so much more. And let’s face it, being stressed kinda sucks. For more ways to reduce stress, grab my report 101 Ways to Reduce Stress
To your good health!
Annette
