Do You Have a Feel Better Routine? 9 Ways to Reduce Stress Quickly.
In our busy, bogged down, run-around lives many of us are sleepless, time-crunched, frustrated, drained, and lacking the time to give ourselves balance. Ugh!
So, let’s talk about your feel-better routine. Do you have one?
First things first.
What exactly is a ‘feel better’ routine you ask?
Feel Better Routine (my definition): A few simple acts that allow you to lift your spirits or reduce stress in a matter of minutes.
–
This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Disclosure info here.
The Purpose of a Feel Better Routine:
When you can feel stress about to go over the limit or pressure building it’s important to learn some techniques that allow you to take a step back, breathe and recentre your mind.
Coming up with some go-to feel better solutions enables you to take control of your stressful situation and bring yourself back to a calmer frame of mind.
When to Use a Feel Better Routine:
- If you feel completely overwhelmed and are about to reach a breaking point.
- People are asking too much of you and not thinking about your needs. You know the type!
- Someone says something that upsets you and your emotions can’t take it this time.
- You’re generally feeling anxious about a situation.
Related: Learn How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty
Related: How To Stop Ruminating Thought Patterns
My current feel better routine… I turn on my essential oil diffuser, select some calming oils and put the kettle on to make some tea. Then I either take 15 minutes to get creative with an adult colouring book, listen to some music or an audiobook.
My Feel Better Favourites:
Cool Mist Humidifier Ultrasonic Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser
Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book
A common theme for a feel better routine is to find a way to escape your current situation.
The common theme for a feel better routine is to find a way to escape your current situation. #selfcare #selflove #balance #feelgood #feelings Click To TweetHere are 9 Feel Better Routines You Can Try When You Need Some Instant Self care:
1. Find Someone to Hug
It’s proven that giving someone a hug physically makes you feel better. It’s amazing how our bodies and minds work and this article from brainfodder.org talks about how a hug can:
- Protect you against stress and infection
- Lower blood pressure
- Alleviate fear
- Release dopamine and serotonin production – your brains feel good hormones
- Lower heart rate
- Help with infant development
We all know a hug feels good but knowing the above I encourage you to find more hugs in your day, even when you are not at your wits end!
2. Write in Your Gratitude Journal
Literally, stop what you’re doing, grab your journal and document the following:
- How you feel right now
- How you think you can turn the situation around
- 5 things you are grateful for today
If you need a little help with journalling I recommend The 52 Lists Project. It has a list to create for each week of the year. This is a great way to focus on something different and clear your mind when you need it most 🙂
Related reading: How to Practice Daily Gratitude + Easy Gratitude Exercises
3. Make a Call and Vent
Whoever you have a great phone relationship with (your bestie, mom, brother, friend) – call them. Tell them you need to vent for a few minutes.
Sharing your stress and getting some perspective can be enough to help you find your calm and give you a different way of looking at the situation.
9 Feel Better Routines to Try When You Need Some Instant Self Care. #feelgood #selflove #selfcare #feelings Click To Tweet4. Get Outside and Walk It Off
Make sure to take at least 15 minutes to have a brisk walk. During this time you can deal with some of the feelings you have so you can respond properly when you get back or maybe even realize that the situation isn’t as bad as you originally felt.
5. Change Your Environment
Do you have an area in your house that makes you feel good, or perhaps a place nearby you can escape to?! It might also be your backyard or a local park – or as mentioned above, a walk around the block.
It’s important that no matter where you go, it’s somewhere that brings you a little calm. When you get to this place take some time to think about the situation and take some deep breaths.
Want some quick ways to feel better instantly? Give these 9 techniques a try for a happier you. #feelgood #selfcare #selflove #feelings Click To Tweet6. Have a Bath
When talking about changing your environment, it could simply be that the best place is your bathroom as it has a lock on the door!
So, try and check out completely for 30 minutes and have a relaxing bath.
Get the natural candles going and put a few drops of your favourite essential oils in the bath for a calming effect. Do your best to zone out.
7. Have a Laugh
We all know that laughter is the best medicine so find a way to laugh when you need it most.
Here are some funny videos I am so in love with that I have watched more times than I can count.
Scottish Elevator – Voice Recognition – Eleven!
Peter Kay. Misheard Lyrics
Some content not appropriate for kids.
We all know that laughter is the best medicine so find a way to laugh when you need it most. #laugh #feelgood #feelings #selfcare Click To Tweet8. Create Some Daily Affirmations
Creating personal affirmations is a great way to give yourself comfort and reassurance when you need it most.
It’s important for you to think about some affirmations that relate to your current life situation.
You are working hard at life and are passionate about your goals and yet sometimes you can forget all you’ve achieved.
Some examples of affirmations:
- I am working hard at achieving my dreams and I’ve already accomplished so much.
- People love and appreciate me.
- I am worthy of a beautiful, meaningful life.
- I am proud of who I am and where I am going.
- I have been blessed with many wonderful experiences.
Think about 5 you can create and repeat them when you need it most, plus when you wake up and go to bed.
Related reading: 25 Positive Self Love Affirmations + Free Printables.
9. Listen to Some Music You Loved Back in the Day
When we listen to tunes we loved when we were younger it brings us back to carefree, fun experiences.
I encourage you to make a playlist of your favourite music and in the meantime listen to my ‘Get Your Groove on Happy Playlist‘!
Tell me. Do you have a feel better routine?
Is there anything you can try here that will help you clear your mind and destress?
Leave a note in the comments below 🙂
Found this post helpful? Please Share…
Do you have a feel better routine? Here's why it's important + discover some ideas to try. #feelings #feelgood #selfcare #selflove Click To Tweet
Wonderful post! I love doing a bit of yoga – makes me feel so much better!
Thanks so much Lauren! os glad you have a go-to way to help you when you need it. Yoga does wonders for so many 🙂
Great post, I have to say. I need to stay implementing some of these wonderful ideas when I get frustrated,
Love this! It’s important to separate yourself from the issue – creating space from your problem will help give you perspective. I love the idea of getting out and walking. My two go-to’s for this is working out and cleaning! It may sound crazy that cleaning makes me feel better, but it gives me a sense of accomplishment, is productive, and helps me burn off anxious energy 🙂 Great post!
Priceless:) It’s important to be able to set ourselves a ‘feel better routine’ – especially in all the digital noise we live in.
Very motivational article.
Great post! I think we all have days like this when we just have to stop for a moment and do the things that calm us down and give us back the good mood.
I love this!! For me, getting outside definitely helps my environment. Nothing that the great outdoors can’t fix!
The “eleven!” clip is hilarious – the first time when I saw it I thought they were talking German.
I love my gratitude journal! I don’t write too often, but I love to read it – makes me feel good.
Hugs, walking it off, and listening to music are huge for me! Great ideas!
These are great suggestions! My favorite way to relax is to hang out with my dogs. They are always there for me when I need them,.
They let me vent and they never say the wrong thing 🙂
These are awesome! Thank you so much for sharing. Sometimes just getting up and changing my environment can help lower my blood pressure. You never know that something so easy can be the thing you need to feel better.
Hugs are the best. And when I don’t have a friend or family member around (and my cats won’t cooperate), I find a bath is often the next best thing.
This is definitely something I should adopt. Stress really gets to me and I have anxiety attacks too. Thanks
This list is perfect. I couldn’t even pick out a favorite. I loved all of your suggestions!
I needed to read this today. I’ve been in a transition between moving out of state, applying for jobs with little luck, and balancing personal relationships but all have sort of boiled down into a huge funk. Daily affirmations, a gratitude journal, and getting out of my apartment for walks are definitely going to be implemented better into my routine. Thank you for sharing!
Baths, laughs, hugs, and walks are all great one for me to do. When I am stressed, I love watching funny Youtube videos with my hubby. My favorite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7ghDhpCLKM
Thanks for these great ideas, and for the reminder to have a plan in place for stressful days! Getting outdoors and getting some exercise for that adrenaline rush are definitely on my list. I also love the idea of a gratitude journal. When I’m feeling anxious or down, I go back through my old entries, it’s a nice reminder of how many great things I have going on in my life!
Great post! It’s so important for our health to slow down and recognize when stress is taking over. I usually make a call to vent, unplug from technology, hug my kiddos and watch an old show.
The hug, the walk and the laugh are def on the top of my list! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
–
Anita
simplisticlyso.com
These are fantastic tips! I love to go for a walk (or run) to ease stress.
Great tips! I love venting and letting everything out. If I don’t have an outlet, it’s more difficult for me to move on
These are great ideas and I use many of them already. Great post!
Simply reading this list made me feel better! So I guess one of my tips to feel better is to write down all the things that make you feel good or that you love doing and re-read that list in times of need. (And probably also do a couple of things off the list.)
I’ll come back to these ideas here for sure. 🙂
I have never heard about “Feel Better Routine” but I absolutely love the concept and the idea behind it. I think it’s an important part of self-care and I should definitely write down some of the tips you are giving here!
I just love this! Everyone needs a feel better routine. These are such wonderful ideas! I’m going to implement some of these into my routine for sure.
It’s totally important to have a feel better routine! I’ll take my dogs for a long walk and then curl up with a cat, a cup of tea, and a good book when I need to feel better.
These are such awesome tips! Some of my go-to’s: listening to music, sitting down with a cup of tea and a book (which really doesn’t happen very often so when it does, I’m always in a much better head space!), focusing on just having one-on-one time with my daughter and loved ones, and taking some time to work out! Also a huge fan of hugs – they do wonders for the soul 🙂
My techniques include keeping a journal and going outside for fresh air. They work really well with me. Thanks for sharing Yolanda. Great tips.
Great article! I love using a gratitude journal or getting nostalgic with some good music. I definitely want to try out a few more to add to help me reduce my stress and anxiety (especially audible!)
Hugging and journaling are my two go to things whenever I need a pick me up !thanks for sharing.
There is something to be said for a gratitude journal. I have done this and it helps so much for depression and overall well-being.
This post is so helpful, I love it. For me, it definitely has to be a brisk walk, I can start off my walk absolutely furious, and by the time I get home I am completely calm. It just gets everything out for me and puts everything into perspective. Plus it makes you healthier, so you feel better. It’s a total win win!
I love your tips. I also follow some of these tips and I talked about it before for my birthday anxiety feeling 🙂 It is great to know I could apply them when I feel I am overwhelmed in life.
Thanks for sharing
Yes to all of this! I always feel better after venting to a friend or taking a long relaxing bath. 🙂
I love this !!! Definitely going to implement more of these for my own self care !
I love all of these tips. A bath and a cup of tea (not necessarily together solve everything. I’m a big fan of affirmations, gratitude journalling anything to shift your focus to something more positive.