Since today is national Stress Awareness Day, I’m sharing 5 ways I cope with stress. Stress is a normal part of life, but how we cope with and manage stress has a tremendous affect on not only our mental health but our physical health as well. In fact, during a very stressful period in my life, I was unable to conceive. After I was able to identify and manage the big stressors in my life, I became pregnant with my first son. That is how profound an affect stress can have on our lives.

Here are my favorite 5 ways to manage stress:

1. Exercise.

I never realize how big of a stress reliever a good workout is until I am forced to take a break from my workouts. After getting back to the gym after two foot surgeries this year, I realized how much I truly cope with stress by simply sweating it out. It makes medical sense: stress raises your blood pressure, and exercise lowers it.

2. Go for a walk with a friend.

I used this method the other day when I had a stressful parenting day. My threenager is really testing me and after a particularly trying day, I called my mom and asked her to go for a walk with me. The combination of vitamin D, exercise, fresh air, and loving company is like a magic potion for stress relief.

3. Take a bath.

Just wash it away. Do it up with candles and a bath bomb. A shower can have the same calming affect on your mind and body.

4. Get a massage.

Massage alleviates both mental and physical stress. Don’t have a babysitter or enough hours in a day? Use Zeel to have a masseuse come to your house after the kids go to bed or after a late night at the office.

5. Read a book.

Sometimes you just need to get out of your own head, and there is no better way than to get lost in a book. I’m currently finishing up this one and that’s all I will say about it because I hate spoiling stories for anyone.

Share your stress relieving tips in the comments below!

xo

BB