Managing the Constant Changes: Staying Healthy and Happy During Stressful Times

4 tips for Staying Healthy and Happy During Stressful Times

Don’t get down and depressed!  Focus on self-care!

Life carries with its unique stresses that affect each of us every day.  These can be both personal and professional pressures.  We learn to cope with these situational demands to navigate through our day.  Enter: A pandemic, that most of us had little knowledge about.  I know early during the endemic, I looked to the news daily to help educate me about this virus, who was at risk and the signs and symptoms of infection.  It became apparent very early on that a good deal of the media coverage was hyped and politically driven, heightening the stress that we all experienced over the past several months. Stress can manifest itself in many different ways including headaches, insomnia, depression, anxiety, and body aches.

It seems like many of us are living day to day, with the ever changing COVID numbers and their impact on our community.  We live each day concerned about exposure when out of the home. We each try to do our part by wearing our mask, practicing social distancing and hand washing.

Here are 4 things you can do to help you cope with the current pandemic, allowing you to feel and look better:

#1 exercise outside

1. Exercise – There are so many things that are benefited by exercise in some form. Remember for some it may mean a high intensity workout while for others it is simply walking on a treadmill or outside.  According to the American Heart Association, exercise may improve each of the following:

• • Release stress and calm you
  • Improve your mood and help you think clearly
  • Help control your appetite
  • Help you lose weight if you’re overweight, or stay at a healthy weight
  • Give you more energy and stamina
  • Lower your blood pressure
  • Increase your “good” HDL cholesterol level
  • Improve your quality of sleep
  • Help you feel better about how you look

#2 fuel your body

2. Eating right – Never forget that food is fuel. We all have heard of the phrase “stress eating”.  In fact, there are certain foods that may improve both neural pathways that can control emotion, motivation and mood.

Check out these 5 stress relieving foods I recommend (and enjoy!) from Everyday Health:

• • Herbal Tea – promote warmth and calmness
  • Dark Chocolate – antioxidants help reduce stress
  • Carbs – “healthy” carbs are OK! They may help increase serotonin levels which impact your stress. Look for whole grains and sweet potatoes.
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Avocados
  • Warm milk – Yes warm milk has been around a long time! It provides calcium to help decrease stress

#3 erase wrinkles and stress with Botulinum Toxin

3. Botulinum Toxin – Products such as Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau all work to decrease contraction of muscles and subsequently decrease the activity of muscle and the overlying lines that form from it. The lines, such as the “11’s”, “crow’s feet”, or lines on our forehead make us look old and stressed. By weakening these muscles, we also know that tension and migraine headaches can be reduced, and in some cases eliminated in some patients.  Another nice benefit in many patients treated is an opening of the eyes by elevating the brows. Check out before and after photos here.

Before and After Botulinum Toxin Injections, Real Patient Cases 190, 77, and 75

4. brighten up with a skin care facial

4. Get a Facial – “Facials” is an all-encompassing term that often is used to describe just about any skin treatment in the office. Some simply massage the face, others exfoliate while still others perform a more aggressive peel. We have 4 incredibly experienced aestheticians in our Dallas and Frisco offices.  In addition to assessing your skin and reviewing what your skin would benefit, our skin care specialists perform incredible, patient specific facial treatments that are effective for your skin and can be very relaxing. You will see and feel the glow afterwards!

The bottom line: Make sure you tune into your well-being and take care of your mind and body every single day!  Self-care should be a top priority in these uncertain times!  I hope that these tips help you manage stress and look as good as you feel! Our Dallas and Frisco offices are open and we are taking every precaution to ensure your safety while you visit.  Schedule your appointment here or call us at (214) 645-3112.

STOP and SMILE! 🙂