As women, we take on a lot. Many of us have full time jobs, kids, spouses, elderly parents to care for, commitments at church, bills and the list goes on. With juggling so many responsibilities it is not unusual to feel overwhelmed or become stressed. Unfortunately, stress has negative effects on us mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. Stress has been proven to correlate to weight loss/gain, premature aging, hair loss, acne, migraines, depression, etc. While we may not be able to avoid becoming stressed all together, we can mitigate it by using different methods to relieve stress.
- Go for a walk or a light jog – It has been determined that light cardio can aid in relieving stress opposed to vigorous cardio activity. So, take some time, jog a trail or walk the beach and have time to clear your mind.
- Paint your nails – Taking the time to concentrate on something other than the items contributing to your stress can help you feel better. Also, you are taking the time to do something for yourself and make you feel good about yourself.
- Write your feelings – Buy a small journal and when your stressed or frustrated write down how your feeling. Being able to express yourself candidly with physical action will help relieve some of your built-up tension.
- Retail therapy – Who says a little shopping, hurts anyone? Give yourself a budget and spend some time in the mall finding good buys.
- Get a massage – A good massage that focuses on your target tension areas is a great way to take some weight off of your shoulders.
- Have a night to yourself – Take a shower, cook your favorite meal, watch your favorite movie and just relax. This one may require a little help from family or friends if you have kids.
- Take a lavender infused bath – Lavender has been shown to aid in relaxation. Using a little aromatherapy can help you relieve some stress.
- Take a bikram yoga class – Hot yoga is relaxing, an opportunity to rid your body of toxins, get a good workout and an awesome method for stress relief.
- Pick up a hobby – Find a hobby that interests you (painting, writing, crafting, swimming, etc.) and when you feel stressed out find time for it. Focusing on a new hobby will help you take your mind off of the stress.
- Buy an oil diffuser – Oil diffusers are a great method for natural remedies, including stress. You can purchase an oil diffuser for less than $20 and can stock it with tension relieving oil essentials such as lavender, rose, and chamomile.