As
the stress of work, family, relationships and personal obligations pile up,
it’s easy to get overwhelmed by everything that goes on in your daily life.
Before you know it, you can get caught up in a vicious cycle of negative
feelings, habits and attitudes.
To keep your emotional and physical health grounded, it can be helpful to
maintain a healthy perspective by focusing on daily therapeutic approaches that
can lead to better overall health and well-being. Whether you’re a busy mom or
a stressed-out executive, everyone can benefit from pushing out the unhealthy
aspects of your life one day at a time with the following five therapeutic
tips.
Sweat It
Out
Sweating can be one of the most therapeutic remedies for relieving stress and
tension while increasing energy levels and positive attitudes. But many people
believe they need to set aside an hour every day for cardio or strength
training workouts to get the best results.
When it comes to exercising for the purpose of relieving stress, just five to
10 minutes of any level of activity can do the trick. Go for a 10-minute walk either outside or
on the treadmill can be enough time to download your brain from a busy day and
revitalize your spirits.
Leave Out
the Junk
Most people would agree that soda, chips, sugary treats and desserts can be
classified as traditional junk food. But eating refined and processed foods is
fueling your body with junk food as well.
As the old saying goes, “you get out what you put in.” So if you’re fueling
your body with junk food, then you will more than likely experience unfavorable
results both physically and mentally.
Food not only can affect how your body looks and feels, but it also can
contribute to people’s stress and whether they can handle what comes their way
during the day.
Breathe
In and Out
Breathing is simple enough. You do it all day, every day without even thinking
about it. But when you’re stressed or busy, your breathing patterns can become
short and shallow, which can lead to tension from holding in your full breaths.
A good daily tension and stress release tactic is to take a minute or two out
of your day to focus on deep breathing.
If you work at a desk, it can be as easy as backing your chair up, putting your
screensaver on, turning your phone off and just sitting quietly inhaling
through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.
Take Time
Out for Yourself
The biggest excuse that most people lean on for not being able to live a
therapeutic lifestyle is not having enough time during their busy days to focus
on their personal health and well-being. In the grand scheme of life, though,
if you want to start living a better one then you have to start taking five minutes for yourself every
day.
Just like you spend a few minutes daily brushing your teeth, schedule a few
minutes of downtime every night before you go to bed to wind down, drink a cup of
tea and just let yourself go. Or before you get out of bed in the morning,
snooze your alarm for an extra few minutes to stretch out your body from head
to toe, take a few deep breaths and set your intentions for the day.
Taking these few minutes at the beginning and end of your day can lead to
making a big difference in your overall approach and attitude toward all areas
of your life.
Daily therapeutics are not only good for promoting a healthy heart and soul
internally. Taking time for yourself can also carry over to being able to
better handle external situations in your life like work, relationships and
family.
Start out today taking five minutes to relax and rejuvenate your mind and body.
It’ll only be a matter of time before you start feeling healthier and happier.
Another key to “taking care of yourself” could be regular massage. Call Jodi at Inner Focus Massage in south Fargo to schedule an appointment. Jodi is available at 701-238-8257.