Simple Ways I De-Stress
I have noticed that my stress has somehow managed to overwhelm me.
With new reorganization at work, the state of the world, and just being human, I have caught myself getting wound up more than I should or need to. Without going into much detail about why I'm stressed, I wanted to write about ways that help me de-stress and unwind. Maybe these ideas could help you, too!
1. Unplug.
The #1 thing that helps me is to get off of social media. Sometimes social media tends to trigger stress, which means it's the last place I want to be. How do I unplug?
- Put the phone down. Literally. Put it down, turn it on silent or turn it off, and go do something, anything else.
- Uninstall apps. Is Facebook driving you crazy? Just uninstall it. You can always access it via a browser app but it takes a bit more time to get to and less likely to make that effort. (Sad, but effective!)
- Turn off the TV, iPad, tablet, etc. Turn off the electronics. I don't have cable, but I use my YouTube app, and others news apps to keep connected. When I get stressed, I just turn everything off.
2. Do something you love.
When I get stressed, I often want to hide under a blanket or sit and pout. This never helps, so I make an effort to do something I love. I think the sheer joy of doing something you love just releases the happy feels and makes life a little more bearable. Some things I do are listed below.
- Bake. I love to bake. Last night, I cooked dinner and baked a cake. It was so nice to focus on something I love and it turned out delicious! It definitely ended the day on a good note.
- Walk/hike/run. In order to take care of my body, I like to get outside or go to the gym and work out. Whether it be walking my dog, going to a wilderness area and enjoying nature, or going to the gym and running, all of these things help me focus on taking care of me.
- Go shopping. Listen. Retail therapy is great. I don't mean go and spend $300 on crap you don't need. Sometimes I love to just window shop. Sometimes I go and just buy one thing that I really want (a cute dress or a new pair of shoes, something super nerdy like a video game, etc.). Sometimes I go buy some groceries I want or ingredients to make something at home. Sometimes I buy craft supplies and do a DIY project. It doesn't matter! Get out of your house, get our of your head, and go focus on something else!
- Go grab a bite to eat or have a drink. Call up a friend or go solo and get breakfast, lunch, or dinner somewhere that you love. Go grab a beer or glass of wine with a friend and chat for a bit. For me, I love food and beverages, and I'm a total foodie, so trying something new is exciting and helps me unwind.
3. Take care of yourself.
It's easier said than done, but sometimes taking care of myself helps me the most when it comes to de-tressing. When things become hectic, I tend to set my needs aside to focus on problems. I think it's important to put some time into taking care of your mental, emotional, and physical state.
- Spa day. Take a warm shower or epsom salt bath. Take the time to wash your hair well, shave your legs, use a body scrub, invest in an inexpensive face mask. Paint your nails if you want, fingers or toes. Fix your hair. Spend an hour trying new makeup if you like that. Put on some nice clothes. Go out and get a mani or pedi if that's your style. Whatever! Go do something for yourself! Pamper up!
- Clean your house. Sounds weird right? What does that have to do with taking care of yourself? Well, I've noticed when my house is clean, it takes a little bit of weight off my shoulders. When I come home and my bed is made, there isn't dust or dirt on everything, no dishes in the sink, it's like I have a fresh slate to look at. I spent several hours cleaning this weekend, and it was the most relaxing part. Now when I come home from work, the house will be so clean! I won't have to worry about cleaning stuff before I have to start cooking dinner. Awesome.
- Schedule alone time. Get off the electronics. Maybe turn on some of your favorite music. Grab a book you love, grab a journal and pen, or participate in some activity that makes you calm. For me, I love to listen to music and write or DEEP clean. I mean clean the heck out of some area of the house. Those two things make me feel so calm, productive, and totally resets my mind. Any time I spend alone and recharging helps me face the rest of the day or week.
These are just some of the things I do to help de-stress. It's the little things I need to pay attention to that add up to having a nice and stress-free day. I hope these tips help you remember that you are in charge of you and there are many ways to take care of yourself in the form of de-stressing. What are ways you de-stress? Let me know!
With new reorganization at work, the state of the world, and just being human, I have caught myself getting wound up more than I should or need to. Without going into much detail about why I'm stressed, I wanted to write about ways that help me de-stress and unwind. Maybe these ideas could help you, too!
1. Unplug.
The #1 thing that helps me is to get off of social media. Sometimes social media tends to trigger stress, which means it's the last place I want to be. How do I unplug?
- Put the phone down. Literally. Put it down, turn it on silent or turn it off, and go do something, anything else.
- Uninstall apps. Is Facebook driving you crazy? Just uninstall it. You can always access it via a browser app but it takes a bit more time to get to and less likely to make that effort. (Sad, but effective!)
- Turn off the TV, iPad, tablet, etc. Turn off the electronics. I don't have cable, but I use my YouTube app, and others news apps to keep connected. When I get stressed, I just turn everything off.
2. Do something you love.
When I get stressed, I often want to hide under a blanket or sit and pout. This never helps, so I make an effort to do something I love. I think the sheer joy of doing something you love just releases the happy feels and makes life a little more bearable. Some things I do are listed below.
- Bake. I love to bake. Last night, I cooked dinner and baked a cake. It was so nice to focus on something I love and it turned out delicious! It definitely ended the day on a good note.
- Walk/hike/run. In order to take care of my body, I like to get outside or go to the gym and work out. Whether it be walking my dog, going to a wilderness area and enjoying nature, or going to the gym and running, all of these things help me focus on taking care of me.
- Go shopping. Listen. Retail therapy is great. I don't mean go and spend $300 on crap you don't need. Sometimes I love to just window shop. Sometimes I go and just buy one thing that I really want (a cute dress or a new pair of shoes, something super nerdy like a video game, etc.). Sometimes I go buy some groceries I want or ingredients to make something at home. Sometimes I buy craft supplies and do a DIY project. It doesn't matter! Get out of your house, get our of your head, and go focus on something else!
- Go grab a bite to eat or have a drink. Call up a friend or go solo and get breakfast, lunch, or dinner somewhere that you love. Go grab a beer or glass of wine with a friend and chat for a bit. For me, I love food and beverages, and I'm a total foodie, so trying something new is exciting and helps me unwind.
3. Take care of yourself.
It's easier said than done, but sometimes taking care of myself helps me the most when it comes to de-tressing. When things become hectic, I tend to set my needs aside to focus on problems. I think it's important to put some time into taking care of your mental, emotional, and physical state.
- Spa day. Take a warm shower or epsom salt bath. Take the time to wash your hair well, shave your legs, use a body scrub, invest in an inexpensive face mask. Paint your nails if you want, fingers or toes. Fix your hair. Spend an hour trying new makeup if you like that. Put on some nice clothes. Go out and get a mani or pedi if that's your style. Whatever! Go do something for yourself! Pamper up!
- Clean your house. Sounds weird right? What does that have to do with taking care of yourself? Well, I've noticed when my house is clean, it takes a little bit of weight off my shoulders. When I come home and my bed is made, there isn't dust or dirt on everything, no dishes in the sink, it's like I have a fresh slate to look at. I spent several hours cleaning this weekend, and it was the most relaxing part. Now when I come home from work, the house will be so clean! I won't have to worry about cleaning stuff before I have to start cooking dinner. Awesome.
- Schedule alone time. Get off the electronics. Maybe turn on some of your favorite music. Grab a book you love, grab a journal and pen, or participate in some activity that makes you calm. For me, I love to listen to music and write or DEEP clean. I mean clean the heck out of some area of the house. Those two things make me feel so calm, productive, and totally resets my mind. Any time I spend alone and recharging helps me face the rest of the day or week.
These are just some of the things I do to help de-stress. It's the little things I need to pay attention to that add up to having a nice and stress-free day. I hope these tips help you remember that you are in charge of you and there are many ways to take care of yourself in the form of de-stressing. What are ways you de-stress? Let me know!
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