{"id":12518,"date":"2022-04-24T23:29:57","date_gmt":"2022-04-24T23:29:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womenmag.net\/health\/10-no-hassle-steps-im-taking-today-for-a-better-tomorrow\/"},"modified":"2022-04-24T23:30:13","modified_gmt":"2022-04-24T23:30:13","slug":"10-no-hassle-steps-im-taking-today-for-a-better-tomorrow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/womenmag.net\/health\/10-no-hassle-steps-im-taking-today-for-a-better-tomorrow\/","title":{"rendered":"10 No-Hassle Steps I’m Taking Today for a Better Tomorrow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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When it comes to self-love, I\u2019ve always been an all or nothing kind of gal. I\u2019m either on top of my routines doing the\u202fabsolute most\u202f(6 a.m. wakeup, 7 a.m. hot yoga, 9 a.m. saying\u202fpositive affirmations\u202fto myself in the mirror)\u202for\u202fI\u2019m feeling anxious and low on\u202fmotivation\u202fwhile simultaneously avoiding human contact and responsibilities because I just\u202fcan\u2019t\u2014there\u2019s no in between. So if there are any sort of wellness tips I gravitate to in life, they\u2019re the ones that are realistic, no-hassle, and attainable which proves to be especially important on those days where I\u2019m feeling like I\u2019m in a little bit of a slump.<\/p>\n

In an effort to find balance and consistency between who I am when I\u2019m super high energy and who I am on days where I\u2019m simply not feeling it, I\u2019ve built up quite the repertoire of go-to wellness tips that I turn to to stay\u202floving myself, even if I\u2019m not up to moving mountains.\u202fTried and true, here are 10 no-hassle steps I\u2019m taking today to feel better by tomorrow: <\/strong><\/p>\n

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1. Going grocery shopping, filling my fridge full of nutritious foods<\/h2>\n

If there\u2019s one sure way that I know I can get myself out of a funk, it\u2019s doing a grocery run to fill my fridge with plenty of nutrient-dense foods. Time and time again, I\u2019ve fallen into the \u201cI\u2019ll just get fast food delivered\u201d pit which, while initially indulgent, nine times out of 10 leaves me feeling sluggish and super guilty about the fact that I just dropped $30 instead of making something that would make me feel better. To set myself up for a better future, I love to fill my fridge with lots of fruits, vegetables, and foods high in fiber and good fats.<\/p>\n

And when it comes to making sure I\u2019m showing myself love by fueling myself with nutrient-dense foods I love having fresh avocados on hand. It\u2019s virtually the only fresh fruit with good fats and plays a dual role in helping me meet both my fruit\u202fand\u202fgood fat recommendations. It helps me honor my body in a small but significant way. Fresh avocados are a staple in my grocery cart, and they provide me with a satisfying snack as well as nourishing my mind and body. They are also delicious.\u202fClick below for a\u202fFREE handout\u202ffeaturing delicious avocado-based snacks inspired by a Mediterranean-style of eating! <\/strong><\/p>\n

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2. Listening to mood-boosting music<\/h2>\n

If I\u2019m having an \u201coff\u201d day, one of my favorite tried and true ways to get back on track is to have a one-woman dance party to one of my favorite playlists. Listen\u2014don\u2019t knock it til you try it. I pop on my favorite playlist and start dancing and singing like nobody\u2019s watching. And TBH, it\u2019s super therapeutic. There\u2019s something about scream-singing along to my favorite song that makes me want to run through a wall and definitely boosts my mood. 10\/10 recommend.<\/p>\n

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3. Tidying up my workspace\u00a0<\/h2>\n

When I\u2019m feeling overwhelmed, one of the first things to go and one of the areas that I pay attention to least is the cleanliness of my apartment. I feel less happy when my environment is messy. I\u2019m not super type A, but I\u2019ll admit: I feel so much better when I tidy up even a small area, especially if I\u2019m spending a decent amount of time there (cough, cough: my workspace).<\/p>\n

If my place is a mess, I\u2019ll set a five-minute timer to clean up as much as I can beginning with one small area at a time. I find that five minutes is enough to motivate me to continue working beyond that time. I\u2019m definitely motivated by progress, so once I get going, I\u2019m usually inspired enough to Keep going<\/em>. And if for some reason I just can\u2019t go on after those five minutes, it\u2019s still five minutes of tidying that I wouldn\u2019t have done otherwise. It\u2019s truly a win-win situation where I\u2019m investing a small amount of time in something that I know will make me feel better.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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4. Connecting with others<\/h2>\n

When I\u2019m not feeling the greatest, there\u2019s one task above all that I simultaneously dread the most and know will likely cure me. That task, my friends, is calling someone I love. Working up the courage and energy to ask for help or just put myself out there isn\u2019t always the easiest task, but I\u2019ve never left a phone conversation with my bestie or my mom feeling worse or the same as before. Connecting with people I love, even if it\u2019s for just a few minutes over video chat, gives me a sense of belonging, reminds me I\u2019m not alone, and usually results in a good, unexpected laugh that boosts my mood exponentially.<\/p>\n

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5.\u00a0Doing light exercise\u00a0<\/h2>\n

One area that I\u2019ve made progress by leaps and bounds over the course of the last few years is my relationship with moving my body. In accordance with how I typically tackle things (all or nothing), I used to truly believe that if I wasn\u2019t dripping sweat, burning an upwards of 500 calories, or crushing a new fitness goal every day, it simply didn\u2019t count. This would have a negative impact on my motivation to exercise and cause me a lot more anxiety when I was going to the gym. Especially on those low-energy days, I couldn\u2019t muster up what it took to hit those high-intensity workouts, so\u2014*spoiler alert*\u2014I\u2019d do nothing at all.<\/p>\n

Since I\u2019ve healed my relationship with fitness, I know just how much a lower-intensity, quick workout can do for my body and my mind. It’s gone are the days when I was a complete wreck at the gym. Don\u2019t get me wrong: When the stars are aligned, I\u2019ll do a high-impact workout here and there. My 15- to 30-minute walks, 12–3-30 treadmill days, and stretching have all proven to improve my mood tenfold (no anxiety or pre-movement dread).<\/p>\n

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6. Write in my journal<\/h2>\n

If there\u2019s one therapy takeaway that I turn to above all others, it\u2019s journaling. When I\u2019m feeling anxious or low, one of my most tried-and-true ways to get my ruminating thoughts and feelings into the physical world are to brain-dump them onto paper through journaling. I\u2019ve tried some more structured prompts in the past, but I\u2019ve found that they work better for me when I\u2019m feeling a little more inspired and high-energy. On those in-between days or if I\u2019m in a bit of a mental slump, brain dumping has been my saving grace. My mind feels clearer after a good journaling session. New thoughts and challenges feel a lot easier to manage.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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7. Do a 5-minute meditation<\/h2>\n

OK, I can\u2019t lie. I may be the worst meditator I know. But the way I see it, that also makes me someone who has a ton of potential (my \u201cmost improved\u201d award will be here Any minute now<\/em>). I\u2019ve found that doing guided meditations works a lot better for me and, like my brain dumping via journaling, helps me most when I have a far-too-full brain and not a lot of energy to spare.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, I\u2019ll meditate in the middle of my workday to clear my mind before a meeting or when I find myself getting overwhelmed by tasks (especially when every single one is labeled as high-priority). I have found that taking a step back has helped me manage my anxiety and helped me focus more and calmer. Other times, I\u2019ll meditate at the end of my workday to help get me out of \u201cwork mode,\u201d which has been a game changer for my end-of-day shutdown routine.<\/p>\n

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8. Move my nighttime routine by 30 minutes to get an early start to sleep<\/h2>\n

I\u2019ve gotten a lot better at prioritizing my nighttime routine, but the reality is that even with a curated system for sleep, I don\u2019t always get to sleep as early as I\u2019d like. As I age, I am more aware of how sleep affects my mood, alertness, productivity, and mood the next day.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve found that cutting down my evening TV binge sessions by just 30 minutes has helped me start my nighttime routine earlier and has helped me get to bed at or before my intended sleep time. I\u2019m definitely not cutting out my TV time altogether, but three-hour-long episodes are a bit excessive. As long as I tell myself \u201cit\u2019ll be there for me tomorrow,\u201d I can usually peel myself away from the screen and get a good head start on my sleep game.<\/p>\n

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9. You can switch scrolling on social media for a light reading to wind down and relax.<\/h2>\n

For years, one of my worst habits has been scrolling social media (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook\u2014you name it) as a way to \u201cwind down\u201d when I\u2019ve time and time again learned that it does the exact opposite. Between being blinded by blue light, seeing something that can make me anxious and get my adrenaline pumping, or falling down a TikTok rabbit hole until 2 a.m., I\u2019ve learned my lesson when it comes to scrolling. I\u2019ve started reading lighter novels before bed which has done wonders for my wind-down routine. After a few pages of focused relaxation, I\u2019m able to let sleep catch up to me and take me into the night.<\/p>\n

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10. Setting tomorrow\u2019s alarm for 20 minutes earlier than normal\u00a0<\/h2>\n

If there\u2019s one \u201cI-hate-to-admit-it\u201d way that I can ensure that I start tomorrow off on the right foot, it\u2019s setting my alarm for a mere 20 minutes earlier than I normally do. Starting my day off with an additional 20 minutes to prioritize myself\u2014journaling, meditation, doing my skincare routine at my leisure, romanticizing my morning cup of coffee, or reading (the world truly is my oyster)\u2014is probably my favorite way to kick off a day. Even if the day ends up being hectic, knowing that I carved out a few minutes to show myself\u00a0 some love is such a good feeling that surprises me Every<\/em> Single<\/em>\u00a0Time<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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8 Easy Daily Habits that Will Help You Get Your Goals Accomplished<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Fresh Avocados \u2014 Love One Today, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Source: The Every Girl<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When it comes to self-love, I\u2019ve always been an all or nothing kind of gal. I\u2019m either on top of my routines doing the\u202fabsolute most\u202f(6 a.m. wakeup, 7 a.m. hot yoga, 9 a.m. saying\u202fpositive affirmations\u202fto myself in the mirror)\u202for\u202fI\u2019m feeling anxious and low on\u202fmotivation\u202fwhile simultaneously avoiding human contact and responsibilities because I just\u202fcan\u2019t\u2014there\u2019s no in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12520,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womenmag.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12518"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womenmag.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womenmag.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womenmag.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womenmag.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12518"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/womenmag.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12521,"href":"https:\/\/womenmag.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12518\/revisions\/12521"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womenmag.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12520"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womenmag.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womenmag.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womenmag.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}