Five Daily Habits For Pain Relief

Living with pain can make it difficult to go about your daily routine and lifestyle. Normal activities like going to the gym or a yoga class on the weekends or even cooking healthy and enjoyable meals after work can feel like a chore, or even become unbearable in extreme cases. It can be tempting to avoid all but the most essential movements and activities, and even to avoid leaving the house at all unless completely necessary. But maintaining an active lifestyle that includes an exercise routine appropriate for your physical fitness level and condition is actually an important factor in effectively managing pain and staying healthy.

Five Daily Habits That Can Help Manage and Minimize Pain

Whether you are suffering from back or joint pain, incorporating a few simple lifestyle changes and healthy habits can have a significant effect on your overall pain levels and well-being.

1. Make Time to Relax

Making time to relax and unwind can seem like a luxury, especially when you are in pain. But relaxation has been shown to have a positive and beneficial effect on pain management. Meditation is one of the most effective ways to engage in mindfulness and regular relaxation, but there are a number of activities that can help to reduce stress and anxiety and relieve tension in the body, such as taking a warm bath or simply relaxing in the sun.

2. Eat for Your Health and Pain Levels

A healthy diet high in foods known to prevent and lower inflammation and maintain a healthy weight is especially important if you suffer from acute or chronic pain.

3. Exercise

Going for a walk or stretching is probably the last thing you want to do when you are suffering from back, knee or other forms of pain. But a sedentary lifestyle can actually make pain worse and increase your risk of developing other serious health problems.

4. Stay (or Get) Social and Active

Getting outside of the house, socializing with friends or cultivating old or new interests and hobbies is a great way to keep your mind off of pain and manage stress, anxiety and even depression. Join a local organization that supports a cause that you love, or make a standing dinner or coffee date with friends (and keep it).

5. Keep Track of Your Pain and Related Symptoms

Understanding your symptoms and keeping track of your pain on a daily basis, as well as how your body feels after certain meals and activities, can help you find the best diet and exercise routine.

Consult with your physician and experiment with different relaxation practices, physical activities, and recipes to find the routine that works best for you.