My top stress management methods
No matter what your health and fitness goals are, managing your stress effectively can be the missing puzzle piece for a lot of people. If you're constantly stressed, then both fat loss and muscle gain become a lot more difficult (as does life in general!) so it's always a good idea to make sure you are checking in with yourself and prioritising your own needs.
Everyone always talks about 'de-stressing' or stress management, but how do you actually do it? Well, it can be broken down into ongoing management for daily stressors, and immediate management for acute stress.
Here are my top tips on managing your ongoing stress:
- Take daily walks
- Exercise regularly
- Meditation
- Set clear boundaries
- Journal regularly
- Work on improving your sleep
- Eat a diet rich in micronutrients (more fruit and veg)
For those times when you're really under the pump, you may need some more immediate relief for your stress. Here are my favourite ways to reduce stress on the spot:
- Breath work (slow and controlled breathing)
- Lay on the floor with your legs up vertically against a wall (don't knock it until you try it)
- Get outside if you can
- Try a grounding method (look for things you can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch)
Like anything, stress is something that becomes easier to manage with practice. Stress is an unavoidable part of life, and it’s almost impossible to avoid it all the time. However, you can definitely manage it by practicing these methods regularly. Check in with yourself often, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it either. Take a deep breath - you’ve got this gf.
Soph xx