I’ve always had to know how to manage headaches because I’ve always been a pretty headachey person. From my teens all the way until now, I’m very sensitive to things that give you a headache. Which is a bit annoying – but I’ve definitely learned to deal with it. From stress headaches to sinus headaches, there are tons of ways to manage these irritating ailments.
Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash
Funny story, I’m SO sensitive to headaches that even an EX-BOYFRIEND would trigger them!
At around the age of 17, I was in a really uncomfortable and unhealthy relationship and I was finding I was having a headache more or less every single day. As soon as we broke up…
The headaches stopped.
So yes, boys give you headaches too. I’d avoid them at all costs.
All jokes aside, headaches really do suck and knowing how to manage headaches can help ease it a bit, especially on days where you’re busy and can’t really afford to be suffering with a headache in the first place.
But of course before we get into these tips that have helped me, please see your GP if you’re struggling with headaches and don’t just take the advice of someone on the internet.
If you’re looking for some relief, here are some tips on how to manage headaches which have worked for me:
Manage headaches with medication
This is without a doubt the easiest and laziest option but it’s effective. So if you’re able to take tablets such as paracetamol or something like these asprin and Coedine Phosphate tablets then you totally should as it will help ease that headache and allow you to get on with your day.
I wanted to start with this point because everything else on this list is a more natural remedy. If you can’t take paracetamol for whatever reason, then the rest of the points will be better for you.
Drink plenty of water
I drink a LOT of water. I’m taking Citalopram for anxiety and those tablets make me super thirsty. So I’m rarely dehydrated. But I can almost instantly tell when I’ve not drank enough water – because it more often than not brings on a headache. Dehydration is a very common cause of headaches, so ensure you’re drinking enough water.
Massage your face
This sounds daft but when I have a headache (especially a sinus / stress headache which congregates around my eyes and the front of my head) I always knead my cheek bones and my brow bone with my hand or massaging my temples with my fingers.
It feels absolutely amazing and is really helpful in headache relief. You might need to do it a couple of times an hour to relax the muscles in your face but it’s worth it. You can even extend down to your neck and shoulders too, where a lot of tension builds up and can cause headaches too.
Do Yoga
Literally my answer to everything these days. Headache? Yoga! Stressed? Yoga! Just broke up with your boyfriend? Yoga! Seriously, Yoga can aid almost anything. I use Yoga With Adriene and she has a great video which is specifically for the release of headaches, which I’ve used regularly.
But even just a gentle and stretchy practice can help iron out the creases, lengthen your body and release tension which can seriously help aid with headaches.
Related reads:
- 5 Yoga Practices For Stress Relief
- 6 Yoga Essentials For Beginners
- 32 Yoga With Adriene Practices For Every Mood
Sleep
Another thing that helps almost everything is sleep. And when you’ve got a headache, sometimes sleeping it off can really help. Or at the very least, you’re clocking out for an hour so you don’t have to deal with the rotten thing!
A little nap can really aid a headache and give yourself a break! I love taking naps in the day if I have a headache. I usually wake up with a relief from it – even if it hasn’t gone away completely.
Stay away from screens
This is really hard for me to do when I have a headache because I work from home – on my laptop. Literally everything I do is either on my phone or my laptop and requires looking at a screen but I know it doesn’t help.
So if you can, stay away from screens for a while and give your eyes and head a break. You might want to read a book instead or listen to a podcast.
Have a bath
I think when you’ve got a headache – whatever type of headache – relaxing is key. When you’re relaxed, you’re obviously not tense therefore not making your headache worse so whatever you can do to relax when you have a headache, try and do it!
For me, that’s usually having a warm bath, in dim lighting with a book. However when I had a bath for a headache, I tend to avoid using anything smelly as strong scents can sometimes set it off again. So that’s something to keep in mind!