Struggling to Manage Stress? 36 Proven Ways to Elevate Your Health
By prioritizing these life tools, we can improve our stress management, set a positive example, and foster a healthier, more balanced lifestyle for ourselves and our families.
As busy moms, partners, and caregivers, we often juggle multiple responsibilities, leaving little room for self-care and coping strategies. The Institute for Integrative Nutrition's (IIN) Circle of Life Tool offers 36 practical ways to enhance our holistic health, implement vital coping skills, and be better role models for our children.
Physical Activity:
Short Bursts of Exercise: Incorporate quick exercise sessions throughout the day for sustained energy.
Enjoyable Activities: Engage in physical activities you love to maintain consistency and joy.
Walk More: Use stairs instead of elevators and take short walks to increase daily movement.
Home Cooking:
Control Ingredients: Prepare meals at home to manage nutrition and teach healthy eating habits.
Experiment with Recipes: Try new recipes to keep meals exciting and involve your family.
Meal Planning: Plan meals in advance to save time and reduce stress.
Home Environment:
Add Plants: Improve air quality and create a calming atmosphere for a peaceful home.
Keep It Clean: Regularly clean your living space for a healthier environment.
Personalize Your Space: Decorate to reflect your personality and comfort
Relationships:
Meaningful Conversations: Engage in deep, meaningful discussions to strengthen bonds.
Quality Time: Spend uninterrupted time with loved ones to nurture relationships.
Express Appreciation: Regularly show gratitude and appreciation to those around you.
Social Life:
Join Groups: Participate in clubs or groups that align with your interests for social support.
Attend Events: Go to social events to meet new people and expand your network.
Balance Socializing: Find a balance between social activities and alone time.
Joy:
Daily Joy: Find joy in small everyday moments to uplift your spirit.
Pursue Hobbies: Engage in hobbies that make you happy and fulfilled.
Spontaneous Fun: Allow yourself to have spontaneous fun moments.
Spirituality:
Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness or meditation regularly for mental clarity.
Connect with Nature: Spend time outdoors to connect with nature and recharge.
Gratitude Practice: Maintain a gratitude journal or practice daily gratitude.
Career:
Align with Passion: Choose a career that aligns with your interests and skills.
Reassess Burnout: Address and reassess your career path if feeling burnt out.
Skill Development: Continuously develop and improve your professional skills
Creativity:
Artistic Activities: Engage in artistic activities like painting or music to express yourself.
Innovative Thinking: Practice thinking outside the box to solve problems creatively.
Creative Problem Solving: Use creativity to solve everyday problems.
Finances:
Budgeting: Follow budgeting strategies like the 50-30-20 rule to manage finances.
Regular Check-Ins: Regularly check your financial accounts to stay on track.
Savings Goals: Set and work towards savings goals for financial security.
Education:
Continuous Learning: Always be curious and willing to learn new things.
Read Regularly: Read books or articles to stay informed and educated.
Online Courses: Take online courses to learn new skills and knowledge
Health:
Daily Sunscreen: Wear sunscreen daily to protect your skin.
80/20 Rule: Follow the 80/20 rule for balanced wellness routines: keep up with your wellness routines 80% of the time; for the other 20%, enjoy each day as it comes.
Routine Health Checks: Regularly schedule health check-ups and screenings.
