8 Best Ways To Ease Stress And Improve Sleep

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It’s no secret that we’re all a bit more tense than usual these days, thanks to everything this year has brought upon us. If you’ve gained a few extra pounds and are restless, unmotivated, anxious, exhausted, and aren’t sleeping well, you’re not alone.

It’s time to ease stress, get better rest, and improve sleep so you can regain your balance and quality of life. Here are some lifestyle changes that you can make to get started!

1. Cultivate a Better Bedtime Routine

Better sleep begins with a better nighttime and morning routine. First, decide what time you want to start your day, and plan your bedtime for the necessary eight hours. Then, stick to going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.

The trick to cultivating a better bedtime routine is to wind down before bedtime. For example, if your goal is to fall asleep by 10, give yourself one to two hours of wind-down time.

Try to avoid as much blue-light exposure as possible during this time by turning off the TV and any phones or smart devices. You should also avoid eating and drinking during this time as well as having caffeine late in the afternoon. To give yourself an added boost when winding down for sleep, try soaking in your spa for a little hydrotherapy.

2. Commit to a Healthier Lifestyle

An all-around healthier lifestyle is the perfect way to improve your sleep and ease stress. That means eating a healthy and well-balanced diet, getting enough exercise each day, cultivating a better bedtime routine, getting enough sunshine, and taking the time for some much-needed self-care.

Revamping your life can seem a bit overwhelming, so it’s important to start small and do what you can and progress over time. Something as simple as going for a 30-minute walk around the block each morning and swapping fast food for a wholesome meal is an excellent start.

3. Try Yoga or Meditation

Both yoga and meditation are well regarded for their ability to ease stress and improve mental and physical health. Both allow you to practice what is referred to as mindfulness, which is essentially taking the time to focus on the present through breathing exercises and tension-releasing poses.

Plus, yoga is a great workout regardless of your fitness level, and there are plenty of free yoga and meditation videos on YouTube you can use to get started.

Practicing mindfulness by focusing on the present allows you to create peace within yourself because it teaches you to let go of the things you can’t control. It’s also highly recommended to keep a gratitude journal or at least take the time to reflect on a few things you’re grateful for each day as it can boost positive emotions.

4. Take a Break from Social Media

The overuse of social media can be overwhelming. As we scroll, we’re up against everyone else’s “highlight reel,” since people only post about their success and achievements, the cool things they’re doing, their expensive vacations or nightlife, not to mention, their filtered faces and bodies.

It’s either that or each post is trying to sell you something or reminding you of all that’s wrong with the world. It can be both addicting and depressing at the same time.

Make it a goal to use social media less and less each day by committing your time to other things, such as reading, painting, exercising—anything you enjoy that’s constructive. Just don’t post it on social media!

5. Set Attainable Goals

There’s nothing worse than setting yourself up for a huge flop. Sometimes, when we take on too much we overwhelm ourselves and end up procrastinating. Then, we become disappointed and depressed.

Instead of having a “go big or go home” mentality, set yourself up for success by setting attainable goals. Even if those goals are to clean the house and exercise within the same day, by achieving the little goals, you’re building confidence and setting yourself up for the bigger goals.

Remember, all goals can be broken down into steps, so if you do have a big goal in mind, break it down into smaller goals over time. You’ll be amazed at how well you do when you’re not overcrowding your schedule just to stay busy.

6. Pick Up a New Hobby

It’s important to try new things. It keeps your mind active and engaged, and sometimes you end up uncovering a talent you never knew you had, making it all the more rewarding.

Best of all, focusing on new and interesting hobbies keeps you from focusing on the things that would normally stress you out. It’s very similar to practicing mindfulness, even if you’re just following the bread-baking trend.

7. Soaking in a Hot Tub or Swim Spa Regularly

Soaking in a swim spa or hot tub, which is also referred to as hydrotherapy, is incredibly beneficial to your health and wellness. The hot spa water helps to increase blood flow while lowering blood pressure, which helps to de-stress your entire body and promote healing.

It also helps to relieve joint pressure as well as muscle tension and soreness, which is the perfect solution after a long day of work. Plus, who doesn’t love soaking in jet-driven water?

The regular use of a hot tub or swim spa can do much more for your health than just improving sleep patterns and reducing stress! It can also:

  • Ease muscle tension
  • Soothe joint pain
  • Boost energy levels
  • Improve muscle recovery
  • Aid in weight loss

8. Remember to Breathe

Most importantly, remember to take a moment or two to catch your breath. It’s okay if you did the bare minimum today or even stayed in bed. It’s also okay if you’re trying to take on a healthier routine but have stumbled a few times.

Whatever you do, don’t give up on yourself, and don’t be so hard on yourself either.

Ease Stress & Improve Sleep with Lifestyle Outdoor

If you found this article helpful, we have plenty more resources for health and wellness tips on our blog.

If you’re thinking about investing in a hot tub so you can take advantage of the healing benefits of hydrotherapy, contact us today.

Our experienced team will be more than happy to guide you on choosing the right hot tub to fit your needs, aesthetics, and most importantly—your budget!

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