You’ve heard them before, and you would probably hear them again. But the only reason they keep popping up is because these lifestyle changes actually work. And the better part? They will cost you almost nothing! Well, not unless you are counting your time and effort.
We teamed up with Ify Eze, founder of the Afroroots brand to compile a list of easy lifestyle changes you can start doing today to rid yourself of stress and anxiety for a healthier and better you.
Always try to plan your day.
This is not just simply because you want to be organised. Planning your day means you are creating time for things that matter the most to you, and are leaving enough space to do the things that are truly important. It also a failproof way to keep you from running crazy before the end of the day from all your tasks.
List out the duties you must achieve for the day and set a time limit for each of them. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you do not immediately reach your goals. The aim is to help and not stress you further! Instead, understand why that happened and make the necessary adjustments.
Breathing exercises.
As you go through your day, practise breathing exercises for no more than 2-5 minutes at different times. They do not involve any heavy body movements nor are they time-consuming. And they are a good way to restore calm to your life while giving you the strength to go through the rest of your day.
Incorporate yoga into your daily routine.
No, don’t roll your eyes. Yoga actually works. Think of stretches that take the kinks out of your muscles and joints than difficult twisting movements that leave your feet and arms in the air and your head on the floor.
Simple stretches would help to relax your body and relieve you of pain and tension. These exercises include compressing your spine; extending your hands above your head and taking them down while working with your breath; and, gently pushing your head back and bringing it down to your chest while working with your breath.
See? It is not so hard as you thought. And if you are still worried about the time to get these done, well, that is what point one was for.
Love tea? Go herbal!
While they are not considered true teas because they are herbs and flowers, some of them have health-improving properties that will benefit you greatly.
Herbal teas to try include chamomile, peppermint, rooibos, sage, lemon balm, and passionflower tea. These teas are not for everyone, so if you find yourself reacting to any one of them, discontinue immediately.
Sleep early. Sleep well.
No amount of stretching, time management, breathing or tea-sipping will help you alleviate stress and anxiety if you do not get at least 8hrs of good quality sleep daily.
Lastly, remember to eat healthy.
