Meet Our New Preferred Stress Management Methods
Recently, we learned that 75-90% of all doctors' visits are for stress-related issues. It’s one of those statistics that upon initially reading — almost seems surreal. Then you give it a little thought, you start tallying up all of the daily stressors that modern life brings, and it quickly becomes pretty apparent that stress is wellness enemy number one. Understandably, many of us are operating in survival mode, expecting our skin, bodies and minds to thrive when we’re running on empty.Unfortunately, stressing out about stress is not going to help the situation. In fact, the opposite is true.
So how do you manage stress without stressing yourself out? The answer may be as simple as drawing yourself a warm bath, lathering yourself in body lotion, and engaging in some facial massage — but make it CBD.
It’s no secret that CBD is an effective stress relief tool and there are many CBD supplements on the market. But although effective, the act of popping a pill sometimes isn’t the relaxing ritual that one wants to use to unwind at the end of a hectic workday.Instead of combatting stress — a term that instantly makes our blood pressure rise — we’ve rounded up some of the most indulgent rituals (imbued with the medicinal properties of CBD) for a double dose of internal stillness.
The Magic of Massage
Massage has been proven to reduce blood pressure, slow heart rate, and calm the nervous system. In one US study, patients suffering from anxiety and depression came away feeling happier and more relaxed. In another study, participants' cortisol levels were significantly reduced following a 45-minute Swedish massage.The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to head to a therapist to receive the healing benefits of massage. Recently, we interviewed Lisa Levitt Gainsley — a lymphatic massage specialist. Since learning about the powerful benefits of lymph circulation, we’ve been practicing self-administered lymph massage for 10 minutes a day at home.Another nourishing ritual to begin the day with is Abhyanga Massage. This Ayurvedic practice helps move blood stagnation, increases circulation, and regenerates tissues.For an extra stress relief, we suggest pairing self-massage with Prima Skin Therapy Body Cream or their R+R Recovery Cream. Both creams come with CBD and soothing botanicals for ultimate relaxation.
The Power of Pampering
Perhaps in a time not too long ago, pampering was considered a luxury at best and superficial at worst. Thankfully, times have changed and the act of self-care has been reframed as an empowering way to nourish our bodies and spirits. A pop of color on our nails, a quality session in the tub, or even a little hairdresser therapy can do wonders for stress reduction.If you’re feeling overwhelmed or wired — turn on the taps and draw yourself a hot bath with a CBD infused bath bomb. Afterwards, pamper yourself with a skincare regimen that incorporates CBD infused topicals that make your skin baby soft and give it a healthy glow.
Turning Daily Routines Into Rituals
As nice as it is to imagine a Cleopatra-esque life of daily baths and lengthy massages, these rituals are more likely to be weekly occurrences than every day events. Perhaps this is the reason that supplements have become hugely popular.At Team THE FULLEST, we’ve all been guilty of throwing a pill in our mouth, chugging some water, and running out the door on occasion. Yet, this almost defies the point of taking a supplement to calm our nervous systems.So, how do you turn taking a capsule into a ritual? One way is to build a very short grounding exercise into the moment. Personally, we’ve been experimenting with affirmations as we take our morning supplements. Certain phrases that have worked for us include, “ALL I HAVE IS ALL I NEED, AND ALL I NEED IS ALL I HAVE,” and “MY HIGHEST AMBITION IS TO BE WHAT I ALREADY AM.” Affirmations have been scientifically proven but they do require daily practice to form new neural pathways — especially to overcome the powerful limbic system. Pairing this mindset exercise with a supplement that works on the body like Prima's The Daily CBD 25mg Softgel is a potent combination to start the day psychologically and physiologically from a place of calm.
As a publication that lives and breathes wellness, we know that at times the wellness industry — despite its best intentions — can often feel alarmist. Equally, it can seem as though there is too much information to process or that perspectives are often contradictory and lead to decision fatigue and confusion — all of which can lead to increased stress.The truth is stress in small doses and the right environments is not a death sentence; plus it’s also unavoidable. It’s important to remember that our bodies are resilient and have a huge capacity to heal themselves, especially when given the right support. For this reason, checking in with ourselves, finding joy and pleasure, and doing our best to reduce stress when possible are some of the best ways to take control of our health and the quality of our day-to-day lives.For 20% off your Prima order, use code THEFULLEST at checkout.