Let’s face it, life can be stressful. Everyone deals with stress and, unfortunately, there’s no avoiding it. However, it is how we react to our daily stressors in life that define our happiness. To some extent, a little stress can actually be good for us too. It can make us better by helping us become mentally stronger, as long as we learn to manage it in healthy ways.

One major problem today is that we seem to be constantly under stress. Watching the nightly news or scrolling through social media has caused more stress than originally intended. Even going out in public, especially with all the restrictions, is exceptionally stressful. To help, here are 5 healthy outlets to deal with stress!

Get Up and Move Your Body!

Exercise is powerful. You can immediately start to feel better all by getting your body to move around. This is also great for helping to relieve stress and unhappy emotions. This is all due to dopamine.

Your body will naturally produce dopamine when you work out. Even if you are doing a light workout, you’re still producing it! Dopamine is generally regarded as the “feel good” hormone, and when your body is constantly producing it, you will become addicted to it!

If you find it hard to get in the “zone,” especially recently, then try to push yourself harder. When you train at your highest intensity, you will not notice who’s around you and you won’t be in your head. Instead, you’ll be too focused on trying to get through the next few reps. Now, it’s okay if you aren’t able to succeed in those few extra reps, but pushing yourself to at least try is better than not working out at all.

Personally, whenever I am stressed, I go workout and reap the rewards both mentally and physically. If you fear you won’t be able to stick with it, having a personal trainer will help you hold yourself accountable. I’ve noticed that having an appointment always helps my clients feel obligated to go to their training sessions. Creating a game plan and having goals to attain will also give you something to focus on and look forward to. Our amazing group of Rhode Island personal trainers will help keep you motivated and feel less stressed.

Talk to Someone

As cliché as it sounds, sometimes you just need to vent to someone else. Getting an outsider’s perspective can also work wonders too. Talking about what is stressing you can help alleviate it or even make you realize that what you’re stressing about isn’t as bad as you originally thought. Unfortunately for some, opening up about your struggles can be hard, but it’s important to know that it is okay to ask for help. Plus, it’s nice to get an outside perspective and see things with a fresh pair of eyes.

Make a List and Manage Your Time

Not prioritizing daily tasks and having a good time management plan will make you become more stressed. I recommend starting your day off by making a list of all the things you need to get done first, then things you want to get done, and finally things that can wait until tomorrow. As you go through your day, crossing off these tasks can provide some peace of mind.

As a personal trainer in Rhode Island, I recommend that you make your workouts a priority on these lists. It will help you feel better mentally and physically, plus a one-hour workout is only 4% of your day. Your health should never come second and always be a priority.

Laugh!

It’s important to spend time with the people who make you laugh. Laughter is infectious and can quickly turn someone’s bad mood into a good one. There’s a lot of ways to laugh, from hanging out with friends, going to see a comedy show, watching funny movies or TV shows, and so much more. Taking a few minutes out of your day to let yourself laugh can completely change your mood and attitude.

Our goal at Revival Fitness is to make your personal training sessions as fun as possible. As a personal trainer, I notice that people tend to get better results if they are having fun while training. If we are not having fun, then what’s the point?

Unplug Your Electronics, and Plug Into Your Mind

Almost everybody has a cellphone now, and if they don’t they have some sort of electronic device that they use at least once a day. Unfortunately, many people use these devices multiple times a day, and some can even be on them all day. It is incredibly important to create a “device-free” time in your day, even if it’s only for 10 minutes! This means no laptop, no phone, no TV, no electronics of any kind.

People have different ways to unplug and be more mindful, as a personal trainer in Rhode Island, we understand that everyone does things differently. Here are some ways that you can unplug from your electronics and “plug into yourself!”

• Start a Journal
  • Starting a journal can be hard. Sometimes, you just don’t know what to write about. A few good ways to get started is to write down some things that you feel you need to get off your chest. This can help clear your mind and feel more at ease. Also, you could try writing a gratitude list, everyone has at least one thing they’re thankful for.
• Read a Book
  • This is a great way to help clear your mind and help with eye strain. When people look at computers for too long their eyes can eventually start to hurt. Ten pages of a book are all it takes to reset your mind and give your eyes and brain a break from the screen.
• Go for a Walk
  • This is a great way to give yourself a nice restart from staring at screens all day. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that you’re also moving your body too! Getting some fresh air and sunshine is amazing for the body, mind, and spirit.

The important thing is to not forget to take care of YOURSELF. This is the absolute best way to deal with stress. It’s also important to not forget to take it one day at a time. Eat healthy foods, drink lots of water, get a workout in, and don’t forget to unplug every once and a while! As a personal trainer in Rhode Island, I know that making sure these few tasks are done every day will help make you feel better and stronger.

We’re curious to know too—what are some healthy outlets that help you deal with stress?

 

Looking for a great way to deal with stress and be the best version of yourself? Revival Fitness has many personal trainers in Rhode Island that will help by creating personalized training routines for you!