5. Take time for you
"Stress is at an epidemic proportion in our society," says Elizabeth Miles, a chartered psychologist at the Women's Health Resources clinic in Calgary. The effects of stress have an impact on our sleep, appetite and concentration.
Time alone to savour simple pleasures is one great way to beat stress. Book at least one, but better two, "you nights" or dates with yourself each week. Relax in a candlelit bath or head out to a local coffee shop and curl up with Maeve Binchy's latest bestseller from Ireland. Don't worry about the dishes or the staff meeting the next day. Miles' four-step plan is also worth a try. First, find your stress source and see if there's a way to look at it positively. For example, if you have reentered the workforce and receive a less-than-glowing performance appraisal from your boss, don't despair, but see what you can learn from it. Second, "change the situation," she says. Is bumper-to-bumper traffic making you constantly late for work and irritable? Try alternatives, such as taking transit or changing your work hours so you are not commuting at peak times. Third, make yourself more resilient to stress through self-care practices such as surrounding yourself with loved ones and eating healthfully. The final step is relaxation. Find a relaxing outlet such as deep-breathing exercises or a calming hobby.
6. Water yourself
Sipping eight glasses a day does more than just fill you up: it regulates your body temperature, lubricates your joints, boosts your energy, eliminates waste and provides fluoride for your teeth. "Sometimes dehydration leads to tiredness and that slump you may experience in the latter part of the day," says Chen. Water also cleanses your systems, adds Quinn.
Fill up a jug or bottle with your eight glasses each morning and resolve to drink it by day's end. Splurge on a pretty pitcher and matching glass that will inspire you. Tired of plain water? Mix it up with bubbly club soda or mineral water, or splash some juice in for flavour. If you're drinking coffee, caffeinated sodas or teas (diuretics that dehydrate you), sip an extra glass for every mug you drink. Other fluids, such as milk, juice and decaffeinated herbal teas, can also tally up. One glass of each counts for one glass of water.
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