Constant stress can generate an overload of tension within your body, causing a multitude of symptoms and illness.
Here are our top 10 tips for dealing with burnout:
Practice Hygge
Hygge is the name given to simply enjoying the moment. Live in the moment, be intentional and immersed in the present. Focusing on what really brings you joy and light, and doing or enjoying those things with the people who mean the most to you, is the essence of hygge.
Three Simple Steps to Create a Hygge Home | by Henriette Kockum | Inside Blueground | Medium
Drink tea
Drinking herbal tea, like the calming blend from Aveda, is a great way to take some “me” time. Just like the concept of hygge, indulging in the simple act of enjoying a cup of tea allows you to relax and unwind. Sit and enjoy the warmth and tune into your surroundings to become more present in the moment. Enjoy alone or with friends for the perfect 5 min reset.
Take the ultimate bath
Taking a bath is great for melting away stress and relaxing tense muscles. Take time to create the atmosphere and enjoy the healing power of water.
Listen to music / have a dance party in your living room - Music is mood boosting and calming at the same time. Our fave hype girl @riseupshinebright has created this mood boosting playlist which you can find here.
Journal
Sometimes negative thoughts and emotions will start to dominate during stressful situations, making your present situation feel worse. Putting your emotions down on paper can help release negative thoughts from your mind. As you write, you may even come up with a solution you hadn’t thought of before!
Go for a walk
Going for a walk helps calm your sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for your stress response: fight or flight mode. Spending too much time in your sympathetic nervous system can flood your body with stress hormones and have long-term negative effects on your health.
Walking outdoors (or running) can be one of the best remedies for stress, as the movement of the body can have a direct calming effect on the fear center of the brain. This will move you out of fight or flight (sympathetic) into your parasympathetic nervous system. The advantage of being in your parasympathetic system is that it allows you to:
- feel rested
- digest your food comfortably
- feel sexual arousal
This is a great article teaching you more. 7 Steps to Switch Your Body from Sympathetic to Parasympathetic Mode — Neomed (neomedinstitute.com)
Get creative - coloring or crafting helps settle the mind by focusing on a single task, similar to meditating. It brings out your imagination and makes you feel like a kid again, reducing stress and anxiety, reducing inflammation and improving motor skills and vision. For more on the benefits of coloring as meditation, check out our newsletter here.
Sunbathe
Sunbathing helps your body produce vitamin D. When done safely (limiting your exposure time without sunscreen), indulging in the sun's rays boosts your immune system and removes toxins and waste. Exposure to the sunlight also helps to give you a good-night sleep and helps in secreting mood-controlling hormones like endorphins and serotonin from the brain, which are essential for dealing with depression.
Bring nature inside
Spending time in nature can help relieve stress and anxiety, improve your mood, and boost feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Get outside and do some gardening or bring the garden inside.
Meditate
Meditation is the mental discipline of attempting to move beyond the "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness; to enable us to live more fully in the present moment. Meditation can be of benefit for many issues and disorders; in particular, it can release tension, stress, and anxiety. People who take the time for mindfulness and meditation are generally happier, more resilient and glow with vitality. Join us later this week with @everydaybuisnesseducator for some tips on adding meditation and breathwork into your day.
Remember everyone's self-care journey looks different and your may find these tips work for you but maybe they don't. In the mean time we hope we have inspired you to start finding your ideal self-care routines.
With Love,
Rebekah