In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, I thought it would be a good time to share my top 10 tips on how I (mostly) manage day to day stress. I’ve spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out ways to diffuse feelings of being overwhelmed and out of control from the daily stresses of work and life, and have found that a combination of lifestyle techniques mixed with a cocktail of daily supplements are extremely helpful.
When things are stressful, I tend to struggle with my own mental health issues and can be very anxious at times. Since Covid, I actually started experiencing panic attacks—not fun. Chronic stress can affect all areas of life—mood, weight (gain or loss), relationships and more, so it’s good to get a handle on it before it deeply impacts your overall health and wellbeing.
As a long-time entrepreneur, I know that managing stress is easier said than done, but over the years I’ve learned the importance of proactively caring for my mental health. I find that implementing some of the techniques below allow my mind and body to stay calm, even if that feels impossible on some days. I hope you find these tips helpful to achieve some zen in your life too!
Read on to see my combination of lifestyle techniques, supplements, and adaptogens that have personally helped me manage my daily stress.
Below are some favorite products that greatly help me with stress reduction. Keep scrolling for all the tips and details!
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My Top 10 Tips to Manage Daily Stress:
Stay Organized
I think staying organized increases productivity, decreases the feeling of being overwhelmed and helps me to feel empowered and energized. For business, I like using apps like Trello, Evernote, DropBox and Google Calendar to help with organization. Although, it’s always a challenge for me because I receive hundreds of emails and have to manage tons of content daily.
Practice Box Breathing
I like to do this breathing technique as soon as I wake up, and right before I go to bed. I find that it instantly diffuses stress. Here’s how it works:· Inhale slowly through your nose as you count to four
· Hold your breath for four seconds
· Exhale for four seconds
· Repeat as needed (I usually do this three times)Keep a Gratitude Journal
Journaling every day has been life-changing for me. I love this easy-to-use (and keep up with) gratitude journal called The Five-Minute Journal. I now look forward to my daily journaling so much that I bought one for every person in my family. I’ve found that when you physically write what you appreciate every day—even all the little things—life gets put into perspective. Since starting this journal, I don’t sweat the small stuff as much (because it mostly is just that—small stuff).
Move Your Body
Get moving for 20-60 minutes—every single day! I love walking, yoga, tennis, Pilates and online fitness classes like The Class and Melissa Wood Health. If you love to dance, put on some great tunes and dance like nobody's watching! No matter what type of exercise you prefer, any movement is good for stress. It can help distract you from worry by boosting your brain’s endorphins which also improves sleep.
Meditate
Having a regular meditation practice has been great for reducing my stress levels. I love meditating for a few minutes at the end of my yoga classes or virtual fitness classes. There are also many popular meditation apps that people find helpful like Headspace and Calm.Connect with Nature
My favorite way to destress is to be in nature. Whether I am taking walks on the beach, watching a gorgeous sunset, or listening to the birds in the yard, nothing is more grounding than connecting with our beautiful planet. If you have a hard time with typical medication (I do!) or are looking for a new relaxation exercise, try spending some quiet time in nature.Schedule Self Care Time
For me, there is simply nothing like taking a relaxing bubble bath in the evening after a long day! I like to add magnesium salts, light scented candles with essential oils, and listen to calming music to help melt away the stress. Do this 3x per week and feel the difference in your stress levels!
Get a Good Night Sleep
We all know what it feels like when we get a bad night sleep so it’s important to get a solid 7 + hours a night depending on what your body needs. Sleep can boost your immune system, help with your mood and increase productivity which all contribute to stress reduction! Whenever I have trouble sleeping, I find taking a supplement cocktail of Magnesium, Melatonin and Theanine very helpful! Also, be sure to put away your phone and computer at least 30 minutes before hitting the pillow.
Spend Time With Family and Friends
Talking, seeing, hugging and spending time with loved ones causes us to release serotonin—one of the feel-good hormones associated with happiness and lower stress/anxiety levels. Social support also slows the release of the stress hormone cortisol.
Take Supplements and Adaptogens
The supplements and adaptogens listed below have personally been very helpful to me. I am not a doctor but defer to my integrative doctor, and holistic nutritionist to get many of these recommendations. I order most of my supplements from Amazon and Thorne and you can click on links directly below to check them out and shop!
Thorne Stress B Complex -I take this daily as it is a complete complex of B vitamins with extra B5 for adrenal support and stress management.
Thorne PharmaGABA-250 -GABA is a calming neurotransmitter. Thorne’s Pharma-GABA 250 has such a profoundly relaxing effect on me. And it helps me to relax without making me drowsy.
Thorne Theanine - Theanine has relaxing effect on the body and mind and has been shown to positively affect brain chemicals involved in memory and mood regulation. I take this every morning.
SAMe – Pure Encapsulations- These supplements are formulated to help maintain cognitive health, liver function, and joint comfort as well as promote healthy cell growth and positive mood. I take this every morning and if I need an extra mood boost, again in the afternoon.
Magnesium - Magnesium is responsible for so many processes in the body. From blood sugar balance to muscle recovery, sleep, and even stress management, magnesium is needed for all these functions. This one is great because it is made as a hot tea and perfect to drink before bed.
PYM Original Mood Chews - The active ingredients in these chews are GABA, L-Theanine, and Rhodiola which all play a part in supporting relaxation, anxiety management, mood elevation, and pain relief. I take 1-2 chews whenever I’m starting to feel overwhelmed or to help prepare me for upcoming stressful situations!
Mojo Microdose - These gummies contain microdoses of functional mushrooms in order to relieve feelings of stress, anxiety, and decreased productivity. After taking a gummy I feel much more energized and focused throughout my day!
OM Mushroom - These superfood blends provide a wide range of benefits such as cognitive support, immune support, natural energy, stress relief and sleep, etc.
My favorite Om Mushroom powders:
Brain Fuel - This drink mix contains Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Rhodiola, and Folate which help support focus and alertness and promote mental clarity. I love to drink this in the morning and add it to my coffee as it not only provides me with a boost of energy, but also has a delicious mocha flavor!
Hot Chocolate - This blend contains a variety of superfood mushrooms such as Chaga, Lion’s Mane, Reishi, and Turkey Tail which support focus and alertness, immune system health, and helps balance mental/physical stress. I love to drink this at night after dinner because it not only provides numerous health benefits but also helps satisfy my sweet tooth.
Spore Mushroom Chill Out- This anti-stress blend contains Lemon Balm, Passion Flower, Reishi, Valerian Root, and Chamomile which all come together to aid in tranquility and improve sleep cycles. I take these at the end of a long and stressful day to help me unwind and relax!
These stress-management strategies and products help my brain to slow down, relax, and have contributed to improving my overall mental health. I hope you try some of them for yourself to see how they work for you too!
*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or healthcare professional, so I encourage you to check with your healthcare provider before taking any new supplements.
You can check out these and my supplements page on AMAZON HERE.