Self-care is so important for our overall well-being, but can be especially important after a long, draining day. Whether your typical self-care routine is simple or complex, little gestures and practices can relieve feelings of stress, anxiety, and negativity. If you are stuck or wondering how to get started, here are five practices we recommend to decompress after a particularly stressful day.
As cliche as it sounds, deep breathing is a great tool for decompressing and releasing stress. Headspaceand other mindfulness programs provide deep breathing exercise videos on platforms like TikTok and YouTube.Headspace even has an app available for mobile devices! The next time you’re feeling like you can’t catch a break, take a moment to pull up a deep breathing exercise and allow the stress and tension to wither away.
Brain training specialist Emilie Leyes shares her three life-changing brain hacks for redirecting our stress reactions. Leyes covers the grounding method, focusing attention in positive places, mental rehearsing, and how those three tricks changed her brain’s response to stress.
Whether it’s professional or by the hands of a loved one, getting a massage can help your body relax. In a studydone on Japanese students preparing for an exam, findings demonstrated that those who had gotten a massage had less tension in their muscles and lower levels of cortisol, which is a stress-response hormone.
Let off some steam with a hot bath! Hot baths not only soothe your muscles but also lessen the stiffness within them. Studies have shown that hot baths actually activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the part of the body that controls relaxation.
Take Time for You
Taking time to relax, reset, and reflect on your day is essential for your well-being and productivity. These simple self-care practices are accessible, cheap, and worth incorporating into your daily routine. Treat yourself with some alone time and one of these activities and you’ll be sure to feel lighter, calmer, and clear-headed at the end of a long day.
