When you reach a certain age (basically mid-20s), it’s like you can’t get rid of muscle stiffness. It’s extremely uncomfortable, and it can even get to the point where you lose all motivation for anything. With that said, however, it’s not healthy, and it’s not even all too normal to have frequent muscle stiffness. This can greatly impact the quality of life, and who would want that?
It’s not just the quality of your life; there’s the aspect of mobility too. So, if you’re tired of dealing with this and you want to get healthier, then you’re just in luck! You don’t need to feel stranded with this. There’s a way out. So, here’s exactly what you can do to say goodbye to muscle stiffness!
Start Off By Taking a Look at Your Bed
Are you waking up feeling completely stiff and uncomfortable? That’s the big question here: how exactly are you feeling? Are you already feeling sore? Are you dealing with some uncomfortable pain? When it comes to sleep tips, especially for managing this, you need to keep in mind that your bed could be the source of the issue.
While yes, your posture during the day could also affect your muscles, you’re sleeping around 8 hours a night, usually in the same position. So this could very well be the culprit. The firmness of your mattress, and even your pillow, is really going to play such a major role in this. If your bed is too soft, then there’s no support, and all the weight of your body is going to certain spots, usually the back. Of course too firm doesn’t help either, as there isn’t always equal weight distribution like that either.
Keep Hydrated
Did you know that dehydration can actually contribute to muscle stiffness and tension? Not a lot of people know about it, but it’s true. On hot days when you’re sweating up a storm, do you ever notice a difference? That’s why you need to make it a priority to stay adequately hydrated throughout the day by drinking plenty of water. Hydration does a lot for your body; everybody knows that, so when it comes to specifically focusing on muscles, this actually helps lubricate them, thus, less friction.
Incorporate Regular Stretching
This piece of advice might sound way too overdone, but honestly, some of the best advice just is. You need to stretch, but you already need to remember that stretching is more than widening your arms until you hear some pops. In fact, when you wake up, it shouldn’t be the only time you stretch, either! Do it multiple times a day because this loosens up the muscles and prepares them for something that may be potentially demanding.
Just Try to Be Mindful with Your Movements
When reading this, at first thought, you might be thinking it’s being aware of your movement, right? After all, sometimes our brains just go on autopilot when doing daily tasks; the same goes for posture. While yes, you should be paying attention to those, that’s not entirely what Mindful Movement means.
Mindful movement practices such as yoga, Pilates, and tai chi can help reduce muscle stiffness and tension while improving overall mobility and flexibility. So what makes these so mindful? Well, they’re all focused on controlled movement. While yes, just about all exercises are, these take it to a whole other level because they’re meant to promote soft breathing and relaxation too.
It’s All in the Posture
It’s not exactly a surprise when hearing that poor posture causes muscle pain; it’s taught as a child. Even though poor posture might feel comfortable, this is actually causing muscle imbalances and tension, leading to stiffness and discomfort over time. Nothing, everything that’s comfortable can be good, which, yes, is really surprising.
Regardless, since poor posture can have such a bad effect, you really need to look into practicing better posture. Basically, you have posture constantly, all the time, walking, eating, exercising, sitting, and lounging. There’s always a posture, and this needs to be proper. You could look into wearing a girdle or even posture straps if you’re really struggling to be aware of this.
Embrace Foam Rolling
These were super popular years ago, almost even trendy. While trends might die, this is one that’s still used to this day. So, foam rolling and self-myofascial release techniques can help release tight muscles and fascia, reducing muscle stiffness and improving overall mobility.
Now, they have a reputation for being painful, so it’s an acquired feeling that feels less bad over time. However, this can help by essentially massaging the stiff area, which will then help release the tension in them. Again, at first, it can be painful, but once you get used to it, it can be incredibly beneficial.
Consider Looking into Massage Therapy
So this one is super luxurious and can be pretty expensive, too. Not everyone can afford this. While yes, massage therapy from a licensed massager can be incredible, again, it’s so expensive the average person might only be able to do this on special occasions like a birthday.
However, if you have a partner, you can ask them to massage you, or you could even look into those massage cushions on Amazon. You might even be able to massage the spot yourself with a massage gun. But regular massages, with or without someone involved, can be wonderful for fighting off muscle stiffness.
Just Listen to Your Body
Sometimes, the only thing you can really do is to just listen to your body. You absolutely need to prioritize rest and recovery as needed to prevent muscle stiffness and overuse injuries. The signs are pretty obvious; it’s really about paying attention to signs of fatigue, soreness, or discomfort and giving yourself permission to rest and recharge when necessary. You absolutely deserve some rest days, so rest when you need to! Your body signals to you when it needs something, so it’s up to you to listen and practice self-care.