If you’re feeling continually overworked and pushed to your limits, it can take a toll on your health, both physically and mentally. The good news is that there are so many ways to de-stress. But where should you start?
We created an easy-to-follow month-long plan to help. 30 ways to de-stress — one for each day of the month.
If you find a method that works for you, put a check next to it and add it to your daily or weekly routine. For the methods that don’t help, cross them out and move on! By taking a little time to try just one each day, you’ll figure out the best stress management solutions for you.
If you’re super-stressed and need more advice, check out these 101 Things to Do When You’re Stressed.
And for more helpful tips, check out Care.com’s Guide to Managing Stress.
Day 1: Try Meditation
Close your eyes, breathe deeply and clear your mind for two minutes. Do this once in the morning and once in the evening (if you’re feeling ambitious, add a session in the middle of the day). Need help? Try meditations guides like calm.
Day 2: Make a Detox Drink
Brew a large pot of strong green tea, add a few lemon slices and drink often for an easy way to cleanse your body.
Day 3: Unwind With Hot Towels
Soak a towel in hot water with five drops of essential oil. Place the hot towel over your eyes, hands, feet or torso for instant relaxation.
Day 4: Do Yoga Stretches
Lie on your back and raise your legs vertically against a wall. Rest one hand on your chest, one on your stomach and breathe deeply.
Day 5: Set a Nightly Routine
Plan a bedtime routine and stick to it to ensure you get to sleep at a decent hour and feel energized in the morning. Use a sleep calculator to figure out what time you should go to bed for optimum sleep.
Day 6: Snack on Dark Chocolate
Indulge your sweet tooth today with our delicious (and secretly healthy!) Chocolate Almond Candies.
Day 7: Compliment Others
Give someone (or maybe multiple people) a compliment who truly deserves it. You’ll get a big dose of positive energy to carry you through the day.
Day 8: Eat Colorfully
We eat with our eyes first. Get the most out of your lunch break with this beautiful (and nutritious) Rainbow Salad.
Day 9: Relax Your Facial Muscles
Try some facial relaxation exercises, like pressing your tongue against the back of your front teeth to relax your jaw.
Day 10: Focus on One Thing
Multitasking often adds to your stress levels because you feel like you’re never getting anything done. Train your mind to focus on one thing at a time. This will increase your quality and efficiency. Create a to-do list in the morning and check things off one by one.
Day 11: List Out Stressors
Too many thoughts in your head? Write down what you’re stressing about — you’ll feel more organized if you see it on paper.
Day 12: Take an Aromatherapy Bath
Dab this homemade lip balm behind your ears for all-day aromatherapy relaxation.
Day 13: Do Desk Exercises
Sitting at your desk all day can cause stress on your body. Try some desk exercises to loosen your muscles.
Day 14: Be Awestruck
Find a scenic view of the beach or mountains (either in an old vacation photo, using Google Images or in real life) and take it in for a moment. It will remind you that the world has more to offer than the day-to-day routine.
Day 15: Befriend Your Freezer
Prep these easy freezer meals on Sunday night for healthy delicious meals all week long, without the stress of cooking each night.
Day 16: Make a Home Binder
Organize your life by creating a custom Home Organization Binder with our free printables.
Day 17: Bring Nature Inside
Nature = relaxation. Follow these tips to bring life back to your work space by planting fragrant lemon seeds.
Day 18: Hug It Out
When was the last time you hugged the people you love? Make a point today to show them how much you care.
Day 19: Look at Photos
Look through your photo album and remember the fun times you’ve had. Or, look at these adorable puppies.
Day 20: Find Breaks (and use them!)
Write down all your commitments for the week on a piece of paper so that you can find mini-breaks in each day to relax. Then commit to taking those breaks — don’t skip them.
Day 21: Hire Help
Need help organizing your garage? Or grocery shopping? Hire someone to cross things off your to-do list.
Here are 101 Odd Jobs You Can Hire Someone Else to Do.
Day 22: Treat Your Feet
Soak your feet in hot water for 10 minutes. Rub on a Citrus Foot Scrub then finish with lotion and cozy socks.
Day 23: Start a “Pre-Bed To-Do”
Write a to-do list of what you want to accomplish tomorrow before you go to bed. This will help your brain unwind so you can get to sleep without those pesky thoughts buzzing around in your head.
Day 24: Eat Omega-3s
Studies show that eating Omega-3s relieves stress. Eat some salmon, walnuts, flax and tofu today.
Day 25: Laugh
Is today getting the best of your patience? This video will definitely help. Take three minutes to unwind and laugh it off.
Day 26: Listen to Music
Listening to music can dramatically change your mood. This soundtrack will get you started on the path to relaxation. Think of it as a relaxing massage for your ears.
Day 27: Walk Outside
Take a short walk outside to revitalize your mood. Fresh air, movement and sunshine are nature’s cure for stress.
Day 28: Apply Natural Lotion
Try to self-massage your hands. Apply homemade body lotion on your palms and wrists and move your fingers in slow circular motions.
Day 29: Exercise
Don’t skip out on a good workout. Exercise releases endorphins, which will naturally help your body and mind relax. If you can’t make it to the gym, do a small cardio and ab workout in your living room.
Day 30: Get Perspective
Accept the fact that life isn’t perfect — and learn to roll with it. Step back from whatever feels overwhelming today and get some perspective. Ask yourself: Is this something that will matter to me tomorrow? In one month? In six months? From there, determine which issues really matter and which are insignificant in the long run. If you make a habit of assessing your stressors on a regular basis, you’ll learn to only focus on the things that are really important, and let go of the rest.
