These days it seems like there is always something to stress about. You either have papers due, midterms or finals around the corner, bills to pay, relationships to deal with, a summer body to get in two weeks… the list literally is endless. I mean, sometimes I consider giving up my freedom, moving back home, and becoming a kid again, might just be worth the trade for getting rid of the stress of adulating. But alas we can’t. We are stuck with our adult responsibilities and the stress that comes with them. There are ways to unwind though… and no, I am not talking about opening the wine within five minutes of coming home… no good can come from writing your term paper 4 glasses deep into a nice red blend. There are some better healthy ways to de-stress and still maintain a healthy life. So check out my five go-to healthy ways to de-stress.
I know… you are thinking, “She wants me to add another thing to my to-do list?”… Yes, I do. Working out in any way you want, can be a huge reliever of stress. It burns off built up stress and releases those endorphins… you know, the feeling you get from chocolate. Honestly, if you are having trouble sleeping because your brain can’t stop rerunning your list of things to do try a 30-minute workout in the evenings; it will give you time to think and leave you relaxed and sleepy.
Nature is my therapy, and it can be yours as well. I don’t know what it is about going for a walk in the park, or even just simply sitting out in the sunshine for 15 minutes, but it really works. The fresh air gives you time to breathe and often makes you realize that what you are stressing over, isn’t all that big of a deal. Give it a shot next time you are stressed on a decent sunny day. There are so many healthy ways to de-stress.
Maybe it’s the warm water or the dim lights of the candles, or maybe it’s simply the time away from everything, but baths are relaxing. You can’t take your phone or laptop into the tub, so you are left alone with your thoughts… and essential oils. Honestly, embrace this one, put your head just beneath the water far enough to cover your ears. The silence will do more for you than any glass of wine.
I always hesitate to tell someone to turn on a TV or device, but there is a time and a place for it, and this is one. If you are stressed and need a break from your reality, and don’t have the cash to book a quick vacation, try transporting yourself through a book or movie. Take a break from your work, don’t do this if you are on the clock, and allow yourself one chapter, one episode, or one movie that really sucks you into another world. For me, its books, unless I have been reading all day for work, then it’s something like Lord of the Rings. But it can be anything that gives you a small break from your reality.
If you have someone to talk to about your stresses, do it! That’s what that person is there for, to support you and hear you bitch about everything going on in your life. However, make it a rule to yourself that you only talk about a stressful subject once. Get it all out in one go and then move on. That way you aren’t giving your friend or SO an earful about your boss’ high expectations of you every night. They will get tired of it and it will become more like complaining and less like getting it off your shoulders.
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