Winter is the “season of giving,” yet many of us give so much time, energy, and money that we end up feeling exhausted and depleted. If you overextend yourself for weeks on end, the cumulative effects are a far cry from jolly.
Spend some time taking care of yourself by experimenting with these 30 tips to ease stress and restore your energy. Think about which you might want to incorporate into your 2018 self-care routine.
- Light scented candles: Aromatherapy uses essential oils to stimulate the senses, which may reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
- Take a nap: A brief cat nap of less than 30 minutes can help you relax, lower your blood pressure and re-balance your stress hormones.
- Practice an attitude of gratitude: Focus on what you have as opposed to what you don’t. As journalist Germany Kent said, “It's a funny thing about life, once you begin to take note of the things you are grateful for, you begin to lose sight of the things that you lack.”
- Enjoy a tech time-out: Technology distracts from whatever task is at A 2016 Nielsen reportshowed that adults in the U.S. spend up to 10 hours and 39 minutes each day consuming media. It’s become an addiction for many of us. What is your screen time replacing?
- Drink herbal tea: Enjoy this simple ritual that allows you to take a break from the go-go-go of the day-to-day. Steep your favorite flavor of tea and drink it from a fun mug.
- Get a massage: Different types of massages can help you relax and may even decrease pain and improve sleep.
- Smile: Turn the corners of your mouth up towards your ears and you’ll immediately feel better. Studies show that emotions may be directly influenced by facial expressions.
- Do a puzzle: Whether it’s a jigsaw, Sudoku or crossword, a puzzle requires 100 percent mental focus, which balances stress caused by multitasking.
- Have sex: Grab your lover for physical and emotional benefits. Sex triggers oxytocin and other hormones that may boost your mood, improve sleep and reduce blood pressure.
- Color: Coloring is not just for kids. Find some crayons, markers or colored pencils and try to stay in the lines. Display your work on the refrigerator or send it to a friend to share a smile.
- Play with your pet (or someone else’s): Pets are great for companionship. You can tell them anything without judgment, and you get bonus snuggles and licks.
- Take a bath: Soaking in a warm, fragrant bath lets stress evaporate away from your body and mind.
- Clean/reorganize: When everything is in its place, you’ll feel more calm and peaceful than when surrounded by clutter.
- Journal: Create more space in your head by writing down all of the thoughts and feelings that may be swimming around in there and bogging you down.
- Do craft projects: Knitting, quilting, scrapbooking—craft projects give you a chance to be creative, and they distract from the worries, fears or doubts that may normally get your attention and create stress in your day.
- Visualize: Imagine life without stress. Perhaps you envision yourself in a calm place or at a past or future vacation. Imagery can be a powerful tool for coping with challenging situations and achieving a more relaxed state of mind.
- Exercise: Get aerobic! Moving your body stimulates endorphins, which make you feel good. It can also act as a moving meditation. Acknowledge your starting point and consult a doctor before doing too much right off the bat. Simply walking can be a step in the right direction.
- Watch a comedy: Laughing and taking a time-out from the realities of life is a great way to re-set.
- Meditate/pray: Taking time to meditate or pray has a positive correlation to coping skills. Connecting to something other than yourself--your breath or a higher power--can help you be more resilient, a key factor in stress management.
- Say no: You can’t do it all. Figure out your priorities and what you can eliminate in order to have more time for the things that are most important. Business author Jim Collins says, “If you have more than three priorities, you don’t have any.”
- Set boundaries and create more space: Schedule empty chunks of time on your calendar that give you space and more breathing room. Things often take longer than you think, so plan conservatively.
- Rediscover your inner child: Don’t take life so seriously. Make a snow angel, blow bubbles or roll down a grassy hill. Giggling is good for you.
- Read a book: Immerse yourself in a world of fiction or learn from some nonfiction. Research suggests it only takes a few minutes of reading to lower heart rate and reduce tension.
- Play outside: Listening to the sounds of the birds and the wind in the trees, viewing the colors and textures and smelling the fresh air has a profound healing power.
- Enjoy music: Whether singing, playing an instrument or just listening, music has a strong correlation with emotions. Upbeat music can make you feel happy, while slower music has the power to calm and relax.
- Buy fresh flowers: Bring cheerfulness into your home with a fresh bouquet’s bright colors and fragrances.
- Compliment someone: Making someone else feel good will make you feel good.
- Practice yoga/mindfulness: Yoga asks you to slow down to focus on your breath and be present in mind and body. This ancient physical stretching practice has many benefits including reducing anxiety and depression.
- Create a happy file: Fill a special box or folder with pictures, cards, notes and small mementos so that you can browse through it and get a pick me up when you are feeling down.
- Spend time with friends and family: Isn’t that what the holidays are all about? Healthy, supportive relationships are a critical ingredient to stress management because they help you feel good about yourself and what you are doing.
Select a few of these tips to find more love, laughter, health and happiness during the holiday season and into the new year.
