10 Daily Ways to Reduce Stress

10 Daily Ways to Reduce Stress and Cultivate Mindfulness and Self-Compassion

1. Quietly Begin the Day with Yourself.

   Spending just 5-10 minutes in the morning in silence can help establish the tone for the rest of the day.

2. Set Good Intentions.

   Take a few moments at the start of each day to establish good thoughts and intentions for yourself and perhaps also for others.

3. Eat Mindfully.

   Take notice while eating a daily meal or snack. What does the food actually look like, smell like, feel like, taste like?

4. Take Three Deep Breaths.

   Taking three slow deep breaths in and three deep exhalation breaths out as many times as needed throughout your day can help manage feelings of anxiety or stress.

5. Stay Hydrated.

   Staying hydrated with water and herbal teas is a very small kind of act towards yourself and of course towards your health.

6. Stretch.

   Many of us sit for so long throughout the day and experience tension or tightness in the muscles, especially in the neck or back.

7. Set Realistic and Manageable Expectations.

   We may feel overwhelmed from time to time and often have numerous tasks and responsibilities at hand.

8. Drive Mindfully.

   Driving is often an activity that we do while in 'auto-pilot mode'.

9. Transition Back.

   Once you return home from your work-mode to that of home, it is important to spend some time physically and emotionally transitioning back.

10. What Went Right During the Day?

    Finally, spending some time before you fall asleep thinking of any 3 things that went right for you during the day or that you feel grateful for, is a great way to conclude the day.