Americans are more stressed out than ever.
And there are some people who just can’t seem to get a handle on their stress, and it’s causing major problems in their lives.
Freedom Health News has previously reported on 4 things you should stop doing immediately in order to beat stress.
But if you’re wondering what to start doing, we’ve got you covered there too!
As it turns out, adding these helpful things into your life will not only help you when you’re stressed, but they can even help prevent stress.
Check out these 4 routines you can add every day to help melt your stress away:
- Add Exercise To Your Morning Routine
Do you often wake up late and stumble around trying to find your keys and important papers before running out the door?
Or are you rushing to get the kids fed and dressed before school?
Not exactly a stress-free morning, right?
Consider setting your alarm 30 minutes earlier than usual and incorporating a short morning workout to your daily routine – before the chaos starts.
According to the Mayo Clinic, adding exercise to your daily routine not only produces those feel-good endorphins, it can actually improve your mood and even lower anxiety!
Let’s face it – we all feel better when we work out, and this natural confidence booster can help reduce your daily stress.
But there’s more good news – being physically active can actually help prevent stress in the future!
Anxiety And Depression Society Of America reports:
“Science has also provided some evidence that physically active people have lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary people. Exercise may improve mental health by helping the brain cope better with stress.
In one study, researchers found that those who got regular vigorous exercise were 25 percent less likely to develop depression or an anxiety disorder over the next five years.”
You don’t have to have an in-home gym or gym membership to get your workout routine in before work either!
Not sure where to begin?
Start with planking and burpees – trust us you’ll feel the burn!
- Diffuse Essential Oils
One way to help melt the stress away is diffusing a known anxiety buster like lavender.
Our sense of smell can be a powerful tool to help ground our bodies and relax our nervous system.
And by choosing a pleasant scent such as lavender, you can literally help your body destress.
Psychology Today says:
“The olfactory nerve gives us our sense of smell and starts from our nose and enters the skull through tiny holes to connect directly to the brain. This nerve sends signals almost instantaneously to many parts of the brain, including the limbic system and amygdala, which are in charge of emotions, mood, and memory.
These systems are also in charge of regulating our autonomic nervous system, which can either trigger a fight-or-flight response, quickening our breath, heart rate and raising our blood pressure, or can soothe us through turning on the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxing our bodies.
This theory helps explain why scents can so quickly trigger physical reactions in our bodies and have lasting effects after the scent is gone. Essential oils like lavender have even been shown to interact the same way biochemically that many anti-anxiety medications do on neuroreceptors”.
Consider not only having a diffuser at home but purchasing a little plug-in for your car too – especially if you have a stressful commute to (or from) work.
You can even use essential oils like peppermint to help reduce the stress of a headache!
And as Freedom Health News previously reported, peppermint oil is one of the top essential oils recommended by professionals.
- Take An Epsom Salt Bath
After a long stressful day, don’t get into bed without jumping in the tub first and taking a relaxing Epsom salt bath.
No, Epsom salt isn’t the same table salt you find in your kitchen, but it can be purchased at a local drugstore for only a couple bucks a box.
Epsom salt is actually magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, which does all kinds of great things when you soak in it, like ease tired muscles and treat injuries.
And yes, you can use Epsom salt for more than a sprained ankle or wrist!
Many people use Epsom salt as a nightly routine to reduce their stress.
LiveStrong reports:
“A study from the University of North Carolina found that magnesium deficiency enhanced the body’s reaction to stress. Magnesium has also been found to help raise serotonin levels, an important neurotransmitter that helps your brain regulate mood, appetite, sleep and behavior.”
Tonight, try taking a nice hot Epsom salt bath (use 2 cups) and see how you feel.
- Discipline Yourself With Vitamins And Supplements
Don’t skip on your daily vitamin and supplement routine! For these to work at an optimal rate, they must be taken during scheduled times, which usually means at least once a day.
Create the habit of discipline in taking your daily supplements at the prescribed times – after all, our bodies function best when they are getting the proper nutrients.
Freedom Health News has reported on all the ways vitamins can help keep your brain and body strong, so be sure to check out our past tips!
This also means keeping a healthy diet full of fresh produce and healthy cuts of meat – and saying “no thanks” to all the sugar and junk.
And don’t forget to drink enough water!
According to The American Institute of Stress, 44% of Americans feel more stressed than they did 5 years ago.
But you don’t have to be one of those Americans! You can choose a different course and avoid falling into a stressful and depressed slump.
Try adding these four things to your daily routine and see how your stress improves.
Do you already have any of these stress busters incorporated into your everyday life? If so, how have they helped you combat stress?
Tell us your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to share this article with your friends and family to encourage them to melt the stress in their daily lives too!
