5 Easy Ways to De-Stress
#1 Yoga
It may sound cliche but it actually helps. I still struggle to commit time to the gym so this is perfect for me. I can roll out my mat or do it right on my rug. All you need is 15 minutes and you're on your way to relaxation. If you can't manage 15 whole minutes or 900 seconds, then 5 minutes works just fine. Don't over commit, just block out a time to do a small sequence. Try doing this continuously for a couple weeks or a few consecutive days and you'll FEEL THE CHANGE.
Never done yoga before? NO worries, there's super easy and relaxing ones that anyone can do like this one here by Sara Beth Yoga. After these 15 minutes you'll feel absolute bliss.
Remember, this is time for your mind and body to chill: don't think of all the deadlines you may have, The phone calls you need to return. The massive pile of clothes that need to be washed. Because after the 15 minutes are over, all those things will still be there but you'll be more ready to tackle them.
#2 Chamomile Tea
This glorious drink will put your mind and ease. Another benefit is that it wont leave you with a nasty caffeine crash. If you look in my pantry you would have never of guessed that I used to hate tea. Seriously couldn't stand the stuff. I didn't understand the appeal or why anyone would want to drink leaf water. But then one day I had some with honey and was instantly hooked. who would've thought? Huh.
If you're not sure what type of tea to buy, the first chamomile tea I liked and am still fond of is Liptons. Add some honey or lemon wedges and it's you're golden. Skip the energy drinks and venti frappe - this will may you feel better through out the day. I swapped out my regular morning coffee for tea and I had less headaches and sleepless nights when I continued with tea throughout the day.
#3 Get a Mandala Coloring Book
I print out pages of mandala flowers and relax until most of the page is covered, if not completely. It doesn't even have to be mandala, it could be Hello Kitty or Frozen or anything that you can color in. You'll feel calmer after taking a break from being an adult after this color session.
Maybe it's because you're reverted back to childhood or possibly the whole simplicity of it all. You just color in the lines and peace fills your mind. It's an upgrade from doodling. Put your phone down, turn on some Ed Sheeran and color your little heart out.
#4 Treat Yourself
Depending on how much time you have you can reward yourself a number of ways. If you've been going crazy all day, treat yourself to some ice cream or your favorite sandwich place. Get the side of quac at Chipotle. If you managed to pull together an awesome presentation on time, do something special for yourself. Get a haircut, go to a concert, buy that new book, indulge in a massage...whatever you've been denying yourself - do it.
I used to have some pretty bad habits and deny myself a lot of things and doing little rewards here and there are great! If I've gotten obsessed with a new book or have thought about buying a new nail polish, I do it. IT's important to show a little TLC to yourself!
#5 Just say "NO"
One of the biggest issues I've had is saying no. Whether it be hanging out with friends, staying out later than planned or lending money it's ok to say NO. Sometimes when we say yes to someone, we're really saying no to ourselves. If you have a lot of work to get done don't add more to your plate by committing to something you can't do. If you said yes to a lunch and you're dreading about going, just cancel. You're time is important just like your mental health.
So if you want to spend time at home on your day off binge watching Netflix and your friend wants to go on a 10 mile run - just say no. If you were looking forward to going hiking on a new trail but your mom wants to do brunch again this week, just say no. You're not obligated to say yes to everyone, and if you think you are then that's a post for another day.
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