April is National Stress Awareness Month. Stress comes in many forms – physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. And stress can be linked to certain health ailments as well. It’s important to recognize when you are feeling high stress and take the right steps to calm yourself down, and, more importantly, make small lifestyle changes to reduce stress in your life.
The three best ways to reduce stress overall are: eating a healthy diet, exercising and establishing a healthy sleep routine.
However, even if you follow those three healthy habits, stress can still find its way in. So here are some simple tips of what you can do to help you find your calm in times of stress.
Breathe
Connect with your breath. Does your breathing feel shallow or fast? Slow it down, take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing to help slow down your mind and take a moment to pause.
Check in with your body
Where are you holding tension? Relax your shoulders, unclench your jaw and just let everything go. Try stretching or a few yoga poses to release some of that tension.
Restore
When things get really stressful it can feel draining not just on our minds but on our bodies as well. It’s important to take time to rest and recharge. Try meditating or exercising. Drink lots of water and get a good night’s sleep. Everything will seem less stressful in the morning.
Should you need to talk to a doctor about stress, anxiety or mental health, call us to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at (773) 271-9040.