7 Daily Rituals to Help You De-stress
I feel like we’re just tapping the surface of knowing how much stress impacts our short-term and long-term health. It can affect your happiness, hormones, heart health, and much much more. It’s crazy how much control we can let stress have over our lives!
By nature I’m definitely a stresser and consider myself an anxious person. Even though I know better, I tend to stress about all of the things I need to do, as well as what the future holds. While I’m no pro at eliminating stress (to be honest), I have found that positive routines, healthier eating, and balancing my hormones has helped greatly. I thought I would share some daily rituals that work well for me, as well as a few things I do weekly that make a big difference as well.
“me” time first thing in the morning
This is one of my favorite rituals because it helps me start my day in such a positive, calming way. My non-negotiable is easing into the day with a warm, healthy beverage. What else I do with my time depends on what I’m in the mood for or what I need…I try to listen to my body. Sometimes I get in a yoga flow or workout, sometimes I read, write a blog post or do a guided meditation, and other days I simply relax and catch up on Instagram stories. I try to allot at least 20 minutes for myself before the rush of the day begins.
a walk a day (movement + fresh air)
I don’t live in a walkable city, so I have to make an effort to walk outside. Fortunately, my dogs Russell and Lulu help me do that every day! I find that a little movement + fresh air each day is so therapeutic and allows me to take a temporary pause from the craziness of the day! While you’re out there, enjoy some sunshine hitting your skin, and take some slow, deep breaths to lower stress and connect with the earth.
Listening to a podcast while getting ready
I love listening to a podcast in the mornings while I get ready, because it helps to stimulate my brain and gently wake me up, while also distracting me from stressing over my to-do list and schedule. Sometimes I listen to health or self-help type podcasts, and other days I want something more fun or entertaining like a pop culture or true crime podcast. I just go with what I’m feeling that day, and it helps to put me in a relaxed, happy mood before I head into the office! Some of my favorites right now are Asking for a Friend, My Favorite Murder (always), Bachelor Party, and any of the Ringer Dish podcasts.
Taking time to eat a quiet, mindful lunch
I used to shovel food into my mouth and rush through eating, but over the past year I’ve been working on mindful eating and chewing my food more thoroughly. These seem like such basic concepts, but they’re easy to brush over when we’re rushed and stressed. When I carve out even 10 minutes for a quiet, mindful lunch, I can take a pause from the stress of the day and get in tune with my body, so I recommend trying it out! Slower eating and more thorough chewing are great for digestion as well, and will help reduce bloating!
skincare routine + jade rolling
While there are nights that I’m not in the mood to get up and take off my makeup/do my skincare, overall I find this ritual very relaxing and de-stressing. My nighttime routine really helps me wind down from the day and signals that it’s time to focus on sleeping, not stressing. Taking care of my skin has become one of my favorite forms of self care! A few months ago I added in daily jade rolling, and I can’t get enough of how it feels! Using a face roller can reduce inflammation and swelling, increase circulation, stimulate collagen production, and help your skincare penetrate deeper. It’s incredibly relaxing as part of your skincare routine - trust me on this! (This jade roller is great).
Drinking Natural Calm Before bed
I love to drink a cup of warm water with Natural Calm as I get ready for bed. Magnesium is a crucial mineral, especially for female hormone health, and also naturally helps us to calm down. As I drink this tincture I find myself getting calmer and sleepier, and it really helps me to get better quality sleep with a quiet mind. The canister is quite small, but you don’t need to use much (start with 1/2 teaspoon and work up), so it actually lasts quite awhile. I love the lemon flavor!
Diffusing essential oils in your bedroom
I still have sooooo much to learn about essential oils, and have a long list of oils I want to buy, but one very simple thing that I do is diffusing essential oils in our bedroom at night. I primarily diffuse lavender in the evening because of it’s calming effects (and lovely scent), but I also love the gentle hum and glow of the diffuser (I LOVE this affordable diffuser). Some lavender oils I recommend are here, here and here, and I also love this calming blend.
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Beyond these daily practices, I’m a big believer in eating healthy, nutritious foods and regular exercise for stress management as well! Exercise has been proven to lower cortisol levels, so make sure to incorporate regular workouts that you enjoy! Right now I’m loving Melissa Wood Health flows and workouts in the KAIT app. A diet high in nutrients and fiber leads to a healthier gut, which affects our hormones and even our happiness/mood. I’ve really upped my vegetable intake for this reason! I also found that my stress and anxiety levels have decreased since eliminating coffee, so that may be worth trying as well! I find matcha is a great substitute because it provides more steady energy rather than a sudden surge then crash. One last thing I love is laying on the floor with my legs straight up on a wall. It’s a nice moment of stillness, and helps circulation as well!
I hope you found a new idea to take away from this post! If there’s a practice that helps you relieve stress, I would love to now below! xx
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