Stress is a real struggle and I have learned that listening to my body and giving it a break every once in a while is one of the most important thing I can do, not just for myself, but also for those around me. Nothing quite like biting someone’s head off for no reason. 😀 That being said, I have come up with some ways that really help calm me down and give me those moments of relaxation and refocus throughout my day. Some of these have been more effective than others, and there are a few I would highly recommend for anyone. 

~Comfy clothes and a clean face. 

One of the first things I do when I get home is change into my ‘comfy clothes,’ usually leggings and a comfy top, or just straight into my PJ’s. But after a long day at work, I usually can’t wait to get the makeup off my face. Taking a few moments to wash my face and go through my small skin care routine for the night really gives me a moment to take a breath and settle down. If you want to see my nightly skincare routine, you can check out a highlight on my instagram feed. I even love to throw in a weekly face mask.

~A cup of tea or a yummy drink. 

Settling down with a steaming mug of tea or hot cocoa is the best. Something about the warm coziness of the hot mug, the steam on my face and the forced cadence of drinking slowly is therapeutic and calming. And if you are a tea drinker, sleepy time at night or any other herbal tea that has de-stressing or calming properties will be just the ticket. Sometimes though, I just want to assuage my sweet tooth. In which case, I love these guilt free sodas or some kombucha.

~Stretches. 

Doing some sort of stretches throughout the day, at the beginning, or at the end of your day can be a really great way to loosen up those tight muscles and calm down your brain. Taking some deep, abdominal breaths can also really bring some peace back into the moment. I try to stretch every morning and night and I’ll do it periodically throughout the day. I usually like to take a moment in the bathroom at work to try to relax some of those kinks away. Touch your toes, reach super high, put your foot on top of a desk or chair and lean towards it. Lean into a corner to stretch out your shoulders. . . nothing too time consuming or crazy, but enough to keep those muscles warm and give you a moment to collect yourself. 

~A heating pad. 

Don’t use this too frequently, because it can do more harm than good if left on too long or too often. But sometimes, my back is just so sore and tight from sitting all day that the muscles start to cramp. The heating pad is my best friend on those nights. Set a timer for 10-15 minutes and just really relax into the heat. It’s one of the best feelings in the world to me when I get to relax on my heating pad after a rough day. 

~A good book or movie. 

Sometimes just taking a bit of time to disconnect from the world and do something brainless for a while is just the ticket. Don’t fall down the endless trail of Youtube videos though. Who, me? I’ve never done that! In order to keep this from being a bad habit, I set myself a limit or have accountability. I’m not going to binge watch seven episodes of a TV show or spend three hours reading. Set a timer or limit yourself to one movie. At least, that’s what I try to do so I don’t waste my entire life away watching a particular TV show I get super into. LOL! 

~Journaling. 

This is one of my most recommended stress helps. I journal everything. Having that freedom and that space to just write my heart away, pray, doodle, be creative or create word art is a special place to me. I find that when I do it, I feel so much more at peace. So much of my journaling experience is genuinely just spending time in the Lord’s presence. Either praying, or listening and writing down what He speaks to my heart, or even entering into a creative process with Him. That time is so precious, and even if it is just a few minutes here and there throughout the day, it really grounds me and strengthens me and I feel so refreshed and ready to jump back into life. I have even kept my journal open on my desk and written and spilled between busy moments at work.

Let me know in the comments if you would like me to unpack what my journaling process looks like. I know not everyone journals the same, and sometimes it is fun to hear what it means and looks like to different people.

Stay tuned for part two next week!

Blessings,