5 Ways to De-Stress Your Daily Grind

Ever feel like your daily routine is getting you down? Our bodies like routines and they typically work best on a schedule. But sometimes your schedule might just not be enough anymore. We tend to get caught up in so many of the details of our day that it eventually tightens us up so bad that we end up being “OK” with how wound up we are. Well my friends, it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are my recommendations on how to eliminate some of the daily stresses in your day – did I mention they are free?

Breathe, stretch, repeat: Start your morning off with a few deep breaths, sun salutations, or even just some exaggerated yawns. Waking your body up with fresh oxygen will get you out of bed on the right foot and ready for the day! Here are a few super simple morning stretches that I enjoy.

Clean up your Act: Having a cluttered work space, bedroom or even car seems pretty harmless – but if you keep letting it build up, well… you know what happens. Take just a few minutes each day and tidy up your work space, throw out those ancient receipts in your purse/wallet and file away paperwork that has already been taken care of.

Smile: Turn that frown upside down! Smiling and laughing are two of the simplest things we can do to improve our mood. Laughter is good for you in so many ways from releasing endorphins, boosting your immune system (by reducing stress levels) to total body relaxation. 

Do Good: Ever notice how you instantly feel better after you do something for someone else? Why not try to do 1 simple act every day. It can be as simple as holding the door open or letting a car in front of you as you leave work for the day.  Try it out, you never know who else’s’ day you are improving as well!

Exercise: Getting regular exercise is beneficial to your mental AND physical health. Even the simplest exercises release endorphins – the “feel good” chemicals in our brain which will help you relax and focus on the task at hand. Getting out and taking a walk on your lunch break, or after dinner with the family or a friend can do wonders. Not to mention again, you are helping someone else! Taking the time to exercise also provides that “you time” in the day to remove yourself from the grind and let loose.

Try all of these in one day and see what it can do for you! If you want a good endorphin dump, feel free to join me at Pura Cycling Studio for one of our Cycle, Yoga or Personal Training sessions!  Leave a comment for more information on my studio, or if you have any de-stress tips you would like to share!