People often manage stress in unhealthy ways, sometimes without even recognizing it. Whether that means turning to food and alcohol or even over-exercising, it’s only human to want to unwind when the clock hits five. But, as with everything, moderation is key and an overindulgence in what we think of as stress-relieving activities may actually be harming your health. Quick mood boosts are typically short lived, and a sugary cocktail or a highly processed snack can ultimately deplete our energy and mood, suppress the immune system, and disrupt sleep patterns.
Instead, we’re sharing three healthy alternatives to help you decompress with added benefits to your holistic health. Read on for our tips on how to build resilience of the mind and body in handling stress.
1. Practice Yoga and Breathwork
There’s not much a good yoga session can’t fix. Bad mood? Release with a mediative “om,” a child’s pose, and some deep breaths. Yoga has been a traditional healing practice for over 10,000 years and it’s one of our favorite ways to give our minds a break. The controlled breathing that accompanies the practice of yoga allows your thoughts and attention to move into your breath, and away from stressful thoughts. The physical act of movement releases endorphins that naturally reduce stress. Next time you’re feeling overwhelmed and looking to manage stress, head to your mat for a few moments of mindful movement and sacred breath.
2. Sip on Something Good For You
By stocking your fridge with healthy alternatives to your favorite soda or glass of wine, you don’t have to think twice when reaching for a refreshing end of day drink. Bonus points if your drink of choice goes beyond a relaxing ritual and supports your mind and body. ALIVE Ancient Mushroom Elixir’s trio of adaptogenic mushrooms (Chaga, Reishi, and Turkey Tail) serve as the ideal combination to help achieve homeostasis of the mind and body, enabling you to effectively process the stressors around you. ALIVE is food as medicine, bringing your body into healthy harmony with nostalgic flavors like Root Beer and Cola that make it easy to swap with less nutritious options.
3. Draw a Warm Bath
The tub is a great place to wash away worry, the strain of the day, and everything else you carry with you that you’re ready to let go. If you don’t have a full-sized tub or you’re not in the mood for full body immersion in warm water, it is just as relaxing to soak your feet – while enjoying the same benefits of the ritual. Soaking in warm water soothes your nervous system and releases discomfort and tension held in the body. A salt soak with a restorative blend of quartz-charged sea salt, epsom salts, and herbs makes relaxation easy and helps you fully unwind.
While stress may not always be avoidable, there are healthy ways to manage its impact on your overall health. The more healing techniques we have in our tool kit, the more resilient we become.
