How many times a day do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or stressed? Emotionally or physically exhausted? Or maybe both? There seems to be a never-ending to-do list, and it’s easy to feel like you are being pulled in a million different directions. While staying on top of your responsibilities is important, keeping your stress levels down is very important for your health and sanity.

Self-care tips are extremely popular. Taking time to take care of YOU is vital. You can only give so much before you reach the burnout phase. It’s hard to give someone or something your all when you are in a constant state of stress. And finding ways to lower your stress to improve your overall health isn’t always easy.

Taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be time-consuming, either. Life is busy and while spending every day at the spa sounds incredible, it just isn’t realistic. So how can you help keep your stress levels down with such a busy schedule? Try some of these self-care tips to incorporate throughout your day.

Can exercising really reduce stress? For some, this might already be part of your daily routine. Exercise is a great way to keep your stress levels down and improve your overall health. Exercising releases endorphins, and when it comes to exercise, you have to find what works best for you.

According to Harvard Health Publishing, unless physically ill, everybody should participate in either 15-20 minutes of vigorous exercise or 30 to 40 minutes of moderate exercise every day.

If a higher-paced exercise is more your speed, you might enjoy aerobics classes or strength training. Or, you may prefer something a bit slower-paced, such as walking, swimming, or yoga.

Physical exercise isn’t the only way to relieve stress. Meditation and breathing exercises are great ways to take time to relax and clear your mind. However you decide to exercise, incorporating this self-care tip into your routine is so important for your overall health. If you aren’t sure where to begin, consult your physician to discuss the best fitness options for you.

When you start feeling overwhelmed and completely stressed out, it is far too easy to turn to fast food or unhealthy options for meals. The last thing you want to do on top of your already hectic day is spend even more time and energy preparing a nutritious meal. While this feels like a quick fix, eating unhealthy has the opposite effect on your body. Eating foods rich in nutrients is a crucial self-care tip to incorporate into your daily routine. It helps increase your energy and immune system, giving you the head start you need to face the day. 

Improve your overall health and take a few extra minutes each night to pack healthy snacks to keep on hand. Nuts, fruit, cheese, veggie sticks, and protein bars are all healthy and quick options to help keep you energized throughout your day. Staying satisfied will help prevent you from eating leftover donuts in the office or indulging in that late afternoon candy bar. While there is absolutely no shame in enjoying occasional treats, the high-sugar content will only decrease your energy levels, leaving you feeling lethargic and less productive. 

Everyday Health shares that Vitamin C helps fight stress, making citrus fruits and strawberries great snack options to help you stay focused throughout the day and keep your stress levels down.

Drinking enough water each day is crucial to your overall health and fighting stress. “Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.” Mayo Clinic  While it’s easy to forget to drink throughout the day, find ways to remind yourself. For example, set reminders on your phone or purchase a Smart Water Bottle to make sure you are drinking enough every hour. 

Don’t forget to take your vitamins! If you’re feeling overwhelmed figuring out where to start, try ordering personalized vitamins from Care/Of. They deliver the perfect vitamin kit to you based on your age, activity level, and diet goals. Taking vitamins each day is a great way to ensure your body receives everything it needs to keep you going strong!

Sleep. Glorious sleep. There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep to reset and refresh. Unfortunately, many people don’t get anywhere near enough sleep each night. A lack of sleep causes drowsiness during the day, irritability, and, naturally, an increase in stress. 

If you wake up each morning feeling exhausted, try using a sleep tracker like Halo View or FitBit Luxe to receive information on your sleep throughout the night. Also, start putting your phone on the “Do Not Disturb Mode” each night to make sure you don’t receive any unnecessary interruptions while you sleep. Getting enough sleep each night is a great way to improve your overall health. Take time to relax and take the proper steps to ensure you get enough sleep each day.

Staying physically and mentally organized will help you manage your time and have a clear idea of what you need to accomplish. While this idea might seem obvious, it’s sometimes easier said than done. Clutter is a definite way to increase your stress levels. Keeping your home, office, and even your car organized can help keep your stress levels down. How often do you waste time trying to find something you have misplaced? Or find yourself feeling overwhelmed or stressed dashing at a business meeting you completely forgot about?

Keeping up with business meetings, soccer games, doctor’s appointments, and family events can be extremely overwhelming. For moms, keeping up with multiple kids’ to-do lists on top of your own can sometimes feel impossible and exhausting. Find a calendar system that works for you and stick to it! 

For example, hanging a physical calendar in the laundry room may be the best system for your family. Every family member has a color, and that month’s events are clearly noted for the whole family to see. Hanging the calendar in a room that is frequented daily will help keep everyone in the know. Or, maybe you prefer a shared digital calendar with alerts to remind the whole family of upcoming events and responsibilities. And each time you add a new event or task, the entire family receives a notification. 

Finding an organized system that works for your family will help prevent stressful situations like a last-minute run to the store because you forgot it was your turn to bring snacks for soccer practice in the morning! While calendars alone won’t magically make your stress disappear, they are a great way to keep your family on the same page and on time; well, most of the time, at least. And time is definitely something many wish they had more of.

This is definitely the most fun self-care tip! You work hard and deserve a little “you time!” Take a moment and think about things that bring you joy! If you could do anything right now, what would it be? Forget about responsibility for a minute and just think about relaxing and having fun. 

Maybe that means physically getting away from the stress and taking a trip with your best friends. Make an itinerary or don’t! Drive or fly. Explore or relax. Whatever you decide, do what makes you happy and have a stress-free getaway! 

If your schedule allows, find a hobby that you enjoy. Cooking classes, painting, dance lessons, joining a book club or sports team, or maybe a combination of all until you find something you are genuinely passionate about. Trying something new is a great way to break away from your routine and help relieve some of your stress.

Spending quality time with the people you love is another way to remember why you work so hard. For example, incorporating family game nights into your weekly routine is a great way to help the whole family take a break and de-stress together. Or maybe you need a night out with friends? Start a weekly or monthly dinner club with your best friends just to let loose and take time to relax. Nothing helps you battle feeling overwhelmed like time with your favorite people.

Don’t forget to take time to relax and reflect. Have a spa day at home or create your own version of a self-care day. Relax your muscles by soaking in a hot bath with Dr. Teal’s Foaming Bath Salts or Bath Bombs. Or, if you prefer showers, add a scented shower steamer and let your stress just melt away.   

Play your favorite soothing playlist on Spotify and prop up your feet while enjoying a moisturizing face mask or hair mask. If you don’t have time for spa treatments, diffuse your favorite essential oils while using the Calm App to meditate and unwind. Taking time each day to relax is a great way to improve your overall health. 

Create your own at home self-care kit with some of our favorite products:

• Aromatherapy Diffuser
• CINCOM Eye Massager with Heat
• Facial Steamer
• Bluetooth Speaker
• Hydrating Sheet Mask

Have you ever laughed so hard that you cried? Isn’t that an incredible feeling? In that moment of pure joy, all of your worries seem to go away.

“Studies show that laughter can help relieve pain, bring greater happiness, and even increase immunity.” Elizabeth Scott, Ph.D., EveryWell Mind.

Laughing is something we could all use more of daily. So, what makes you laugh? Maybe it’s watching your favorite TV show, listening to a particular podcast while driving to work, or talking with a certain friend. Visit a comedy club for a date night or girls’ night out to encourage extra laughs. Whatever it may be, just make sure you remember to laugh and have fun. 

When was the last time you did something just for yourself? Not because you had to, but because it was what you wanted to do. Make time for yourself. Life is too short to be in a constant state of stress. Take a moment and think about things that make you happy and take the stress away from your day.

What are some ways you de-stress after a long week? Will you try any of these tips to help relieve your stress? Comment below!