You’re sitting at home in quarantine with your cat feeling moody, wondering when the stress you feel will end.
Maintaining a busy schedule of work, a social life and caring for others can be exhausting in a normal situation. In times of such uncertainty, this is all made worse. Perhaps you are working from home with your spouse, homeschooling your children and trying to manage your everyday life in quarantine. For individuals who manage medical conditions, you may be feeling uncertain about communication with your medical providers and having access to things you need.
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It’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed right now, and it’s understandable if you’re not feeling your best. All of this chaos leaves very little room to prioritize your own well-being. But oftentimes when you’re feeling stressed out, your body is trying to tell you something.
April is National Stress Awareness Month, and this month we’re taking the opportunity to fully embrace self-care. We know you’ve all heard of face masks and bath bombs, but we’re digging a little deeper. Because self-care is more than a beauty trend; it encompasses your mind, body and spirit.
For the best self-care tips, we turned to the experts: Instagram influencers. No, we’re not talking detox tummy tea and dubious multi-level marketing hair products. We’re talking positivity, motivation, and self-love all the way.
So whether you simply want a break from binge watching The Office or need a boost of self-love and calming inspiration, these 20 self-care tips are sure to help alleviate your stress faster than you can say “scented bubble bath.”
13 Self-Care Tips from Instagram Influencers
We’ve rounded up inspirational influencers who are dedicated to inspiring and uplifting others through positive motivation and self-care tips. Many of them are known for their excellent advice to help you enjoy some self-care and relieve stress when you need it most. So here they are, our top 20 self-care tips from Instagram influencers that you can try right now!
- Wake up earlier than usual – Let’s Mend @letsmendThe first step to getting yourself out of a stress slump is often the most difficult. You have to make the conscious choice to make a change. Maybe that means getting out of bed five minutes earlier, or maybe it means going for a daily walk around the neighborhood. No matter what it may be, you have to be the one to make the choice to do it.
- Practice mindfulness every day – Katie Dalebout @katiedaleboutRather than get overwhelmed about the past or the unknown future, try to take a breath and enjoy the Now. Take a note from NYC-based writer and influencer Katie Dalebout: “You know when [anxiety] doesn’t happen? When I’m in my body, focused, and present.” We know it’s easier said than done, but we believe in you.
- Let go of what you can’t control – Cara Alwill @thechampagnedietNow that you’re in a good headspace to be present and enjoy the present, try not to get caught up in the little things that would make it “perfect.” Accept that perfection is an illusion and there are only so many things that you have control over. Let the little things go and feel your stress melt away.
- Create a clean and relaxing space – Lee Tilghman @leefromamericaWe promise this isn’t a trick to get you to finally put away that clean laundry you did a week ago. Taking a cue from Instagram personality Lee Tilghman, the simplicity of lighting a good-smelling candle and cleaning your space can do wonders for stress relief. So break out that Bath and Body Works three-wick you got for Christmas, put on some good tunes, and get to it.
- Connect with a friend – Cleo Wade @cleowadeAccording to writer and influencer Cleo Wade, “to be a friend that is truly able to hold space for someone’s growth is one of the most beautiful and priceless gifts you could ever give them.” Connect with your friends, support them however you can, and give them props where they deserve it, or even when they don’t. To be a good friend is to take care of your own soul, too.
- Be kind to yourself – Jordan Young @thebalancedblondeDuring times of overwhelming stress and chaos, maintain your spirit. Hold onto who you are and re-evaluate things you may be doing that are hurting you without knowing it. Maybe it’s negative self-talk or spending all of your off hours doing extra work for an unappreciative boss. While you’re used to being kind to others, take a moment to be kind to yourself, too.
- Practice saying “no” – Alexandra Elle @alex_alleHonor your own boundaries and your capacity to take on things that push your limits. Known for sharing her sage advice Post-It note style, influencer Alexandra Elle recommends striving to balance your “yes” and your “no.” You’re allowed to turn down a night out, a side project, even a conversation if it’s not within your healthy bounds at that moment – your mental health will thank you.
- Relieve headaches and neck tension with Reiki clearing – Kelsey J. Patel @kelseyjpatelIf you’re not familiar with Reiki, get ready to hear a whole lot more about it soon. In this increasingly popular practice, a therapist helps activate the body’s natural healing process by channeling energy through touch. Give this a try at home before you write it off as hippy-dippy! Reiki Master Kelsey J. Patel’s quick 10-minute video incorporates yoga-like breathing techniques with soothing instructions to help relieve headaches, neck tension, and general anxiety.
- Take time to relax alone – Andi Gladstone @dosesofcalmIn case her Instagram handle didn’t give it away, influencer Andi Gladstone inspires her audience with a “daily dose of calm” through muted tones, photos of cozy nooks, and sweet advice to help you take it down a notch. Sometimes the best way to destress is to simply make yourself a cup of herbal tea and curl up with your favorite book to turn off the world for a while.
- Try a 15-minute exercise each day – Lestraundra, @balancedlesGetting active doesn’t always mean lugging yourself to the gym. Your body and mind can benefit from all types of movement! Take notes from wellness influencer and podcaster Lestraundra and challenge yourself to move in different ways. Jump around outside, get groovy to some sweet tunes, or do some stretches on your living room floor to get the good vibes flowing.
- Eat food that fuels you – Carley Schweet, @carley_schweetNot every meal will be an Insta-worthy smoothie bowl, and that’s ok! Listen to your body and be sure you’re giving it what it needs. That includes a well-balanced diet with plenty of vitamins and nutrients, and maybe the not-so-occasional pint of Ben & Jerry’s. Eat what makes you happy and take note of what your body needs to practice self-care on the reg.
- Maintain reasonable priorities – Catherine, @theblissfulmindSometimes it can feel like you’re drowning in an endless list of tasks, which makes it difficult to stay focused and motivated. Inspirational influencer Catherine aka The Blissful Mind recommends making a list of ONLY the top three things you need to accomplish and working from there. Separating your tasks into bite-sized pieces and prioritizing only what’s most important will make your to-do list much more manageable and have a huge payoff in the long run.
- Prioritize the big things first – Bri Vieira, @littlewanderingsoulInfluencer Bri Vierira suggests using this metaphor to help put the most important things in your life into perspective: “Imagine your life as a jar that has just enough room to fit a few big rocks and a handful of pebbles.” The rocks represent things like personal growth, health and family while the pebbles are little things like friends, social media and more. Put the ‘rocks’ first to make sure your jar is always full and remember to prioritize only the most essential things in life.
Self-care embodies our mental, emotional, and physical health. So stay hydrated, take a walk with your dog, and do a face mask for a mental and physical boost. For those who deal with chronic allergies or other medical conditions, stress comes with the territory – but wearing a medical ID bracelet can help! Wearing a medical ID can help reduce anxiety surrounding your condition and give you peace of mind.
This National Stress Awareness month, we urge you to prioritize your emotional health and well-being by practicing self-care. Follow our top self-care tips from Instagram influencers and tell us your favorites!
What do you do to practice self-care when you’re feeling stressed? Let us know in the comments!
