A little stress is good for you, but it can easily impact your health negatively if you manage it poorly. Scheduling a massage once or twice a year is better than nothing, but you need more than that to maintain your physical, mental, and emotional health. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities and goals right now, consider some tips for taking care of yourself. 

5 Ways to Handle Stress Effectively 

1. Establish Healthy Habits 

When your body is healthy and has a robust immune system, it processes stress hormones better. Eat primarily healthy food, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and dairy products. Avoid consuming excess sugars, starches, and alcohol. If you smoke, work on quitting. 

Additionally, exercise a minimum of 30 minutes a day, five days a week. This optimizes your bodily functions in addition to 

releasing endorphins that generate positive feelings. 

2. Get Massage Therapy 

Regular massage therapy reduces stress levels. It promotes flexible muscles, which counteracts how a body naturally tenses up under stress and releases positive hormones like endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. Have professional massage therapy at least once or twice a month to consistently feel happier and more productive. 

3. Relax & Rest 

Take breaks frequently throughout the day. Use those breaks to stretch, walk, meditate, listen to music, or do deep breathing exercises. When you’re done with work altogether, treat yourself to an extra massage therapy session, or take a long soak in the bath with aromatherapy products. 

Also, adhere to a strict sleeping routine that lets you get seven to eight hours of sleep a night. This way, your mind and body will always feel their best, making stress easier to handle. 

4. Enjoy Yourself 

If your schedule is overtaken by work and other stressors, cut some of it out to have more time for activities that you love. Develop hobbies that you do purely for joy, whether reading, drawing, cooking, doing puzzles, crafting, or playing games. Consume media that makes you laugh or feel optimistic.  

5. Communicate 

Maintain a social network of friends and family members who will listen and offer assistance when you need to vent or feel supported. Consider seeing a therapist as well, as they can help you master techniques to help you cope with your stress. Give yourself positive self-talk, too; don’t hesitate to compliment yourself or acknowledge your abilities.

When your life feels overly stressful, schedule a massage therapy appointment at one of MassageLuXe's three convenient locations—Carmel, IN, and Edwardsville and Springfield, IL. Boasting a wide array of specialty massage therapy options to suit anyone’s needs, they’ve helped their clients alleviate stress and feel rejuvenated since 2006. They even offer affordable monthly memberships. Explore their website for a complete list of services, or schedule an appointment by calling (317) 203-3303 (Carmel), (618) 307-0093 (Edwardsville), or (217) 702-4444 (Springfield).