Feeling Stressed Out? Try These 3 Suggestions To Help Manage Stress!

Hi everyone! April is National Stress Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to address unhealthy stress that we all have sometimes. While we need some healthy stress in order to have that "fight or flight" reaction, unhealthy stress can be detrimental to our health, promoting high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, digestive issues and more. But the good news is that you can address unhealthy stress and minimize it! All it takes is a little forethought, so try these three tips that I use to help manage my stress levels.

Make exercise part of your everyday habits. Studies over and over again prove that regular exercise can help to moderate stress levels, and that in the moment of feeling stressed out, movement can help to calm you down! So get it on your calendar to move around at least 30 minutes everyday to help keep stress at bay, and then if you feel anxious or overwhelmed, go for a walk, dance around a room or do some stretches. All will help you calm down and feel better!

Plan ahead. By knowing what's on your plate on any given day, you can help to alleviate unnecessary stress that can creep in based on the "unknown." I like to plan my week ahead in a few ways: I write down any appointments, meetings or meet-ups I have, and I think about anything I need to do ahead of time in order to be prepared for these. I also plan ahead for meals, because I find that if I don't plan out what to eat, I can end up snacking on unhealthy items. My Denise Austin Prepared Meal Delivery is a great way to plan ahead for healthy, delicious meals, so you don't have the stress of planning, shopping and cooking. Everything is done for you - all you have to do is choose what yummy meals you want, and it's delivered right to your door! Plus, all my Prepared Meals are healthy, and good nutrition helps to keep your immune system boosted, which in turn can help you ward off stress! Right now, I am offering $10 off 8 meals or more for new customers - just use code: STRESSLESS10

Declutter. Clutter and messiness can lead to unnecessary stress, so take some time this spring to tackle areas in your home that could use a clean out. Make keep/donate/toss bins, and then what you keep, treat it with care when you place it back. Start small - think that "everything drawer" we all have in our kitchens! Then move onto your desk, closets, etc. until you feel ready to tackle bigger areas like your garage or basement. You can do it, and you will feel a renewed sense of well-being once you see your clean, orderly space... not an overwhelming sense of dread!

I hope these stress-busting tips help you to moderate any unhealthy stress you may be experiencing. And remember - don't ever be afraid to ask for help, we all need it, and there's no reason to live with excess stress if you don't have to! 

Let's live EVER BETTER™ together!

Denise