The last year and half has been extremely stressful for a multitude of reasons and the level of conflict and turmoil on this Earth doesn’t seem to be decreasing. So, how can we manage our stress despite the everyday bustle? How can we remain as healthy as possible mentally so that we can stay healthy physically? And vice versa. Here are a few tried and true tips to manage stress from my family to yours:

*Get outdoors*

Rain or shine, prioritize being outside at least once/day. Running errands doesn’t count. Go for a walk, sit out on your deck, kick a ball around with your kids or pets.  Take your shoes off and feel the earth (grounding!!) Soak up the sun. Vitamin D hugely aids in improving your mood and health. The best way to get it is from the sunshine. In the winter, get outside anyway and then take a Vitamin D supplement! 

*Move*

Yes, we know exercise improves mood but here’s your reminder! You don’t need to run a marathon or hike a mountain. You can move gently and reduce stress.  Movement of our bodies is so important. A 30 minute walk can do wonders. Try using a smart watch to remind you to move.

*Eat*

We tend to gravitate to the carb section of the pantry when we’re stressed. Sugar can temporarily calm the nerves, or so we think. Wrong! Eat when you’re stressed, but eat fruits and veggies.  Eat balanced and drink water! Stay away from the processed food you think will help. It’s the devil. 

*Play*

Sometimes you just need to get down on the floor and play lego for an hour to really allow yourself to decompress. Don’t have kids? You probably aren’t stressed so you don’t need to read this blog anyway. Just kidding! Play with your friends at the beach, or play with your pets. It’s the little things.

*Meditation*

The first time you try meditation, it can actually be extremely uncomfortable to sit in silence and be solely in your own mind, quieting and focusing your thoughts. Why is this? It’s because it’s something we are not used to. We seem to think we thrive on schedules, events, work; however, we also need to breathe and become self-aware. 

Meditation is proven to reduce stress, lower inflammation in the body caused by stress, improve sleep and have an overall positive impact on your life. Give it a try.  Sit down in a calm and quiet place, notice your breath, notice how your mind wanders - allow it to. Then try to focus again. It’s amazing the benefits of daily meditation on the emotional body. 

*Turn off the phone*

Lastly, disconnect to reconnect. We all know this. We all spend too much time on our screens. There’s something about scrolling that numbs the brain. It’s okay to have down time and catch up on the social media world, but limit it! Did you know you can set screen time limits and reminders on your phone? Stress, especially with what we’re dealing with in the world right now, is highly increased due to aimless scrolling and media hype. Turn off the phone. Reconnect to what matters in your immediate life. 

This is where we send Dr. DJ when he gets stressed!