Tips and Inspiration
From Unilever Beauty Experts
A life free from stress is everyone’s dream, but it’s not always possible. Just walking out your front door puts you at risk of running into an inconvenience. When unforeseen circumstances derail your plans, do you sweat it or do you say, “Not today”? Here are a few things you can do to keep calm, cool, and in control.
Live in the Present
Stress can sneak up on you through your thoughts. Always thinking about the past or worrying about the future doesn't leave space for the present possibilities. According to the American Institute of Stress, overanalyzing imaginary events and holding on to the past are surefire ways to miss out on peace.
On the other hand, a 2017 study in the Mindfulness NY Journal states that living in the present and enjoying it increases psychological well-being and life satisfaction. It means savoring your food, engaging in real-life conversations – not just virtual ones – and feeling the sun on your face. To be free from stress, tell yourself that worrying doesn’t change the outcome, and focus on what you can do right now.
Set Some Boundaries
Saying no and finding the time to switch off can greatly affect your overall well-being and ability to handle stress. A 2017 study in the Frontiers of Human Neuroscience found, unsurprisingly, that setting clear boundaries after work hours is essential to your mental and physical health. Slowly disengaging in the evenings decreases heart rate variability and your risk of cardiovascular disease.
Limiting your devices or access to work apps is one way to do it. You could also try being firmer when telling people that you need to rest, log off, and do other things. Training yourself to set healthy boundaries from your job or other stressors can help with sustained well-being.
Keep Moving
When you feel like you don’t have time to exercise is exactly when you need to get active. Moving – whether running, going to the gym, dancing to Beyoncé, or doing errands on your break – can keep you free from stress.
According to Harvard Health, exercise reduces stress hormones and stimulates endorphins, which are natural mood elevators. It also makes you feel good about yourself and gives you control over your body. Renewed energy can help you achieve more tasks throughout the day. And, according to the Sleep Foundation, it promotes quality sleep at night.
Sweating is a natural reaction to both exercise and stress. It’s a perfectly normal bodily function you don’t need to suppress if you don’t want to. If you want to sweat naturally without worrying about body odor, use Dove 0% Aluminum Deodorant Aerosol or Dove 0% Aluminum Deodorant Roll-On. These smoothen your underarms with ¼ moisturizing cream.
Moreover, these deodorants keep you fresh for 48 hours without using irritating aluminum or alcohol, giving you one less thing to stress over. That’s 0% harshness and 100% care for your skin. Both come in a cooling Cucumber and Green Tea variant with a refreshing scent that lasts.
Practice Self-Care
Self-care is an effective way to relieve tension when you feel overwhelmed. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines it as “taking the time to do things that help you live well to improve physical and mental health.” Apart from exercise and good sleep, self-care is also about eating right, staying hydrated, and being kind to yourself.
Though the latter can seem vague, you can achieve it with specific steps such as goal setting in the morning and being mindful of what you accomplished at the end of the day. According to the NIMH, practicing gratitude by writing down things you are thankful for can help get you into this mindset.
No one can completely be free from stress, but practicing the habits above – which are backed by science and won’t cost you anything – can help you manage it like a pro. Get Dove Zero Deodorant Spray and Roll-On at up to 50% off from September 1 to 9, 2022 on Shopee and Lazada.
