Nobody wants to have to live with aches and pains day in, day out. However, this is the reality of life for many people. Many can develop aches and pains for no clear reason as they age, or it can be due to a number of lifestyle factors such as a sedentary job. If you want to feel better about your aches and pains and find ways to minimize them, here are 11 smart ways to do so.
Make Sure You’re Getting Plenty of Sleep
First, make sure you’re getting the right amount of sleep. People who are running low on sleep often find that their aches and pains are worse. You might think that you get more done with less sleep, but this is rarely the case. If you’re not getting quite enough sleep at nighttime, see if you can grab a nap during the day. This will help you to feel more energized, and ultimately, you should find that your aches and pains aren’t such a big issue. Aim for 8 hours a night. This might sound like a lot at first but if you slowly build up to it you should manage it without issues.
Try A Weighted Blanket
Weighted blankets are the new “it” thing when it comes to things like anxiety and pain. These blankets are an ideal way to minimize issues from both mental and physical ailments and help to bring you into the present moment. There are lots out there, so you will need to do your research and ensure that you find the right one for you. The blanket should be around 7 to 10% of your body weight, so keep this in mind also. Many places do a money-back guarantee for those who may not like the feel of the blanket, so ensure you get one from a reputable company.
Take Baths With Epsom Salts
There are different kinds of salts for different issues and ailments, so see what you can find to help you release tension and pain. They might not perform miracles, but a bath with some salts could help you to feel more limber and relaxed in no time.
See A Professional
Don’t put off visiting a professional if you think this may be an issue for them to help with. There are back experts and even scoliosis experts out there who could help to assess your pain, figure out what the issue is, and tell you how to move forward. You may not need to deal with this pain forever, so don’t just accept it as a part of life.
Stay Active
You might think that you should slow down and stop moving if you’ve got aches and pains. However, staying active is often the right thing to do. Moving your body can help you to release all kinds of endorphins and happy hormones, and these will often help with the pain. Not only that, you’ll get stronger, feel better, and will simply become better equipped to deal with life and whatever it throws at you.
Take The Right Vitamins and Supplements
Vitamins and supplements could be a great addition to your daily routine. Taking a multivitamin could help, alongside a fish oil or vegan oil supplement to keep joints lubricated. CBD oil may also be a good idea for anxiety and pain, as well as magnesium oil applied topically. However, you will need to do your own research to make sure you’re taking supplements that are right for you and your needs.
Stretch
Stretch every day to make sure you’re not compromising your range of motion and causing more issues. You should always stretch after exercise, but even if you’re not exercising you should incorporate some stretches and yoga poses. We don’t stretch enough, and we sit around far more often than we should. Lengthen your neck, stretch your arms and shoulders, and make sure you take your time stretching out the rest of your body. Do this regularly.
Preventing Injury
By taking preventive steps and stretching your muscles and ligaments, you can prevent injury and reduce partial ACL tear risks. The effects of a partial anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear or rupture often occurs when the ligaments are twisted. This usually happens when you stop abruptly, suddenly change direction, pivot awkwardly, or land incorrectly after jumping. To prevent damage to your joints, consider undertaking regular low-impact exercise. You should incorporate that type of activity into your daily routine.
Practice Deep Breathing
Deep breathing is a free and easy technique that anybody can use at any time to relax. Relaxing can be tough, especially when everyone is living such busy lifestyles. However, finding your own way to relax and not feel guilty about it could have a huge, positive impact on your mindset. Once you’re used to this you could even meditate! Meditation can be done in the bath or even walking, so you’re not limited to what you can do here.
Distract Yourself
This may not be the ideal way to minimize your aches and pains, but many people do find that if they stop putting such a focus on them, they can minimize them. For instance, if you can paint or read instead of talking about and thinking about your aches and pains, they will likely become a much smaller part of your life, and far easier to handle.
Cut Back on Unhelpful Habits
There are habits that are going to help you, such as exercise and eating right, and there are habits that are going to hinder you, such as smoking and alcohol. Indulging in bad habits might feel good in the moment, but in the long run they can make things much worse for you, including your aches and pains. Try to do what is best for you in the long run.
Join A Support Group
How about searching the area for a support group? You might pick up some advice, or better yet, you could meet people who understand and can talk to about your problems. Speaking to family and friends is great, but they won’t always understand or know how to help you.
Living with aches and pains is no fun at all, and if you’re really struggling then you should never be afraid to go to get professional help. That being said, making sure you incorporate some of the advice above will more than likely help you to manage your aches and pains. Leave your own advice below!
