A Woman's Guide to Overcoming Daily Stress and Improving Overall Well-Being

As a busy woman, juggling school, work, family, and friends can leave little time for yourself. However, it's important to take time out from the daily grind to focus on your own well-being. Otherwise, you run the risk of developing health issues; stress can lead to problems like high blood pressure and depression. And, as ZenBusiness notes, this is especially true if you work in an industry like nursing, retail, or food service.

This guide provides actionable tips you can implement in everyday life for improved well-being.

Make cooking a joy, not a chore

Cooking a meal at the end of a busy day can seem tedious. However, it's important to nurture your body and mind with healthy food. Harvard reveals that nutrition impacts brain function. There's an entire field, called nutritional psychiatry, dedicated to the topic. Make sure you get plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

If you are short on time, Delish.com has a list of easy recipes that take less than 25 minutes to make. Treat your cooking time as a hobby, not a chore. Listen to a podcast or your favorite music while you prepare your dishes. If you want to save even more time, investigate healthy meal delivery services. There are styles available for every taste.

Trust technology to ramp up your fitness routine

Regular physical activity has mental and physical health benefits. Exercise can improve cardiovascular health, build muscle, and enhance coordination. It can also boost your self-confidence, help you shake off stress, and make it easier to relax.

If you want to boost your exercise routine, turn to technology. Modern devices, such as smartwatches or fitness trackers, let you monitor your progress, encouraging you to constantly improve. Protect your fancy new tech with the right accessories. For example, if you get a smartwatch, you’ll want a screen protector for your watch face as well as a band that can hold up to regular exercise and sweat.

Make sure you're getting the sleep you need

Sleep is another critical cornerstone of good health. The American Psychological Association reveals that failing to get sufficient rest can increase the risk of dangerous accidents like car crashes caused by dozing off behind the wheel. Chronic insomnia is also linked to health issues like a greater risk of depression.

Headspace offers science-backed tips to improve sleep. If you have trouble falling asleep at night, try meditation before bed to clear your mind. Further, eliminate extraneous noise and light from the bedroom to avoid disturbances. Black-out curtains can keep out light, while a white noise machine can block out auditory disruptions.

Seek outside support

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you may find that you are still feeling overwhelmed by day-to-day life. If you are stuck in a rut mentally, don't be shy about getting outside help. A licensed psychologist will have the experience and knowledge to help you work through a diversity of issues, from stress to lack of energy. They can also give you useful tools, like coping mechanisms, that you can implement in your everyday life.

When the daily grind is getting you down, try implementing the above tips. These actions can help improve your health and happiness, reducing stress and improving general well-being.

Julia Merrill created "Befriend Your Doc" to share tips she has developed to help patients be their own advocate in seeking medical care, dealing with insurance companies, and contributing to their own health and well-being.

The views expressed on this blog are solely those of the blog post author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Psych Congress Network, the Psychiatry & Behavioral Health Learning Network, or other Network authors. Blog entries are not medical advice.