13 Insanely Quick Self-Care Management Strategies For Stress

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Self-care for stress seems fairly simple. You know… Put on a face mask, drink some water, and breathe. Seems simple enough, right? WRONG! Self-care is so much more than personal care and pampering! This list will dive wayy deeper and help you and your stress levels!

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Social media has influenced us to think that we need to have a long to-do list and in the long run, the amount of time that we spend working is directly related to how happy we’ll be. But when it comes to chronic stress, a great way to increase your stress is to work more and longer… 

Your mental and physical health are so closely related that excessive stress can lead to heart or gastrointestinal issues!

This post is all about self care for stress!

13 Self Care For Stress Strategies

1. Heart Health

This might not seem like a tip, but I promise it is! Focusing on my heart health has given me a purpose in everything I have done. Heart disease can be exacerbated by times of stress! 

You have to think about your heart health in everything because it is such an important part of our lives. Did you know that 20% of deaths in America are due to heart disease?? We have kinda started to fail at taking care of ourselves when it comes to our hearts in the United States. So use this time of stress to focus on something you know will be good for you!

​My Recommendations:

• ​The best way to improve your heart health is to focus on eating good foods and increasing your heart rate. That is kind of the basis of this whole post!
• Look into ways to lower your blood pressure! Stress inevitably raises your blood pressure, so easing the symptoms can make you feel much better!

2. Reading Productive Books

All the books and media you consume are so vital to how you feel and act! Books that inspire you and encourage you to be better overall, can completely transform your stress into inspiration to be stronger!

I suggest reading You Are A Badass By Jen Sincero because it has been so transformative in how I approach life and my relationships. I don’t want to give too much away, but it has taught me how to wield my humor and personality to enjoy life more!

My Recommendations:

• If you are reading a book that occupies your thoughts and it causes you anxiety or stress, then take a break from it! It will always be there to read later!
• Look into books that you are interested in, for example, if you are a procrastinator, then find a book about procrastination and time management!

3. Listen To Podcasts

One of my favorite things to do in the mornings is to pull up a motivational podcast and get ready for the day. For me, I am obsessed with business and marketing so I listen to podcasts where people talk about their businesses and marketing strategies that they have been implementing.

Podcasts are filled with so much knowledge that you can absorb it pretty passively. Listening to all this productive information makes it so much easier for me to be productive and feel motivated in my life.

There are a million different podcasts that you could listen to that could help you improve in some area that you are struggling with! Starting off your day by listening to a podcast that is positive and helpful can help you manage your stress!

My Recommendation:

• If you are into business then you HAVE TO listen to the Goal Digger podcast. It has taught me so much and has helped me stay motivated with my blog and in school.
• If you would like to learn more about money, then Nerd Wallet’s Smart Money Podcast and The Economist are some great podcasts that can help you improve your life financially. Finances are one of the leading causes for stress and since that is so entangled with your work then it can be so hard to manage your stress even at work!

4. Invest In A New Hobby

Now I don’t usually recommend spending a bunch of money on self-care, but if you have a hobby that you have been wanting to get into then I would say that an investment might be a great idea.

For example, one of my favorite things is this blog. I have put a lot of money into this blog, but honestly, it has been so much fun learning everything and showing myself that I can stick to something.

If you enjoy baking and cooking, buy one new pan and find all the different things you can make with it! I bought my $5 bread pan from Walmart and I have used it to death. King Arthur is a great place to find all your staple recipes if you don’t have some already! Their recipes always work out for me!

My Recommendations:

• Instead of taking up drawing or painting right away, start with collaging first. You will just need some magazines, glue sticks, and cardstock.
• Sourdough is a really easy hobby to get into and there are a million recipes to use the discard and the starter!
• I wouldn’t start with crochet or knitting unless you already have a lot of the supplies because it can really add up and take up a lot of space in your house.

5. Watch An Uplifting TV Show

I know that when I watch shows like Ted Lasso that are happy and honestly have good life lessons then I feel better about myself and feel less stressed.

Even with books, sometimes when reading a high-stress book where the characters are in an impossible situation that feels helpless, that can make us feel helpless too.

My Recommendations:

• Find your comfort shows or movies because then you know what works for you when you are going through a stressful situation.
• My favorite shows are: Ted Lasso, The Buccaneers, Gilmore Girls, The Bear (which is just nice because it has some good life lessons), Emily in Paris, Beef, White Lotus, Young Sheldon, and One Tree Hill.

6. Get Some Daily Tasks Out Of The Way

Some things weigh on your brain like doing the dishes, a load of laundry, or even just taking a shower. All of these tasks can cause more stress and clutter in your brain and prevent you from doing the other things that are maybe higher on the to-do list.

My Recommendations:

• Make a list of all the things on your brain that you need to do, and sort them from least to most intimidating. Do the least intimidating ones first!
• Permitting yourself to get some things out of the way will make it way easier to get the more challenging tasks done.

7. Reduce Muscle Tension

The best way to do this is to notice when you are holding tension. You will probably know where to look for this based on where you feel soreness the most often. For me, the neck and shoulders are where I hold tension a lot of the time. So when I notice that I am tense I have to focus and relax.

My Recommendations:

• Find positions and chairs that help encourage relaxation. Don’t settle for an uncomfortable position when you are going to be there for more than a few minutes!
• Prop up pillows behind your neck and lower back to give your head something to lay on!

8. Regulate Your Nervous System

Regulation is all about balance. When you do something stressful, then do something calming. Balance your life and movements for extra regulation.

Massaging and hugging yourself are some great simple things you can do to self-regulate.

My Recommendations:

• Get a weighted blanket for when you are relaxing to calm yourself down. This is the one I use, and there is almost always a coupon for it!
• Focus on pressure and weight on yourself. Get real cozy and squeeze!

​9. Eat Whole Foods

Eating whole foods is one of the easiest ways to improve your overall health. When shopping, it will be pretty inexpensive to buy fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein for the week!

This Tik Tok will give you a good idea of some ways to save money when grocery shopping while still having convenient meals that aren’t crazy involved!

My Recommendations:

• When planning some meals, leave room for finding good clearance items in the store. Give yourself an extra $10 that you can spend on clearance vegetables, prepared meals, or a sweet treat.
• Eating more whole foods will provide you with a better variety of nutrients to help your brain work more efficiently, making you better at whatever is stressing you out!
• Focus on grains, legumes, and vegetables, and figure out what your favorites are! When they are on sale, buy them in bulk! Shop at a big box store like Sam’s or Costco to buy your grains and legumes in bulk (or ask a friend to purchase them on their next trip!)

10. Reduce Computer Screens

Reducing screens in general is always a good idea. If you are tied to a screen for your work or school, then try to set aside 5 minutes to just sit and do nothing. Just sit and stare into space.

Taking time to put the screens away is kinda scary. It has become so ingrained in us that these screens are now a part of who we are as a person. And that is not necessarily bad! But screens are not always good for your stress levels and mental health.

My Recommendations:

• If you have a pet, play with them in silence for a few minutes. Don’t have the TV going, just be fully present.
• Take time to enjoy small things away from screens. You don’t have to completely cut out screens to get the benefit of time without them!

11. Positive Self-Talk

Dealing with stress can mean that you need to build yourself up to be confident enough to deal with your stressors. Talking positively helps destress yourself and get your mind off of the stressors in your life.

My Recommendations:

• Write on your mirror a positive message that you think would help your anxiety overall. What is the root of your anxiety? Find a quote that can help you talk yourself out of it.

12. Set Boundaries

I have a whole post on how important it is to set boundaries! I think setting boundaries is a great way to reduce stress in your life. Self-care isn’t always going to be pretty or easy, and this is the perfect example of that.

My Recommendations:

• Think of all the duties on your plate and ask yourself what can be delegated to others. If it can, then try to ask around for help and support from a boss or friend.
• Don’t let negative people ruin your vibes. It is important to stay on your course and not allow others to add stress to your life.

13. Make Healthy Choices

Choosing to walk up the stairs, deep breathing exercises or drinking water over an energy drink are all great ways to improve stressful times. Your overall health is important and you are important! 

Self-care practices don’t have to transform your life overnight completely. They can be something simple and easy that gets your foot in the door. Your first step to less long-term stress is to do small tasks every day!