Since I started this blog a few weeks ago, I have been so motivated to keep improving it and working on it.  My mind has been running wild these last few weeks and I’m loving every minute of it.  Needless to say, I’ve been running on Spark and wine!  Is that a hashtag yet? #SparkandWine! Anyway, what I’m trying to say, is that I’m finding it very important to pay attention to my level of stress.  I’ve compiled a list of my favorite activities to perform when I am feeling stressed and need some sort of stress relief.  Again, these are just ideas that work for me, and I’m hoping maybe they will benefit you, too!

At Home Spa Day

Who doesn’t love going to the spa?  I know I sure do!  But it can get very expensive very quick.  A facial and massage can easily rack up a $300 bill, so I usually limit those to when we travel.  I’ll enjoy a spa day and completely unwind.  It is amazing how good your body will feel after having all those toxins massaged out.  But, because I can’t afford to go to the spa all the time, I try to find a little peace at home.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE soaking in warm baths at night.  When I’m feeling super stressed, I’ll throw in this lavender Epsom salt, and omg, once I lay down in bed, I’m down for the count.  I also love a good bubble bath, especially one with moisturizer in it.  There are many different types of at home facials, such as this Aveeno 60 second in shower facial.  It’s great!  Also, diy facials are really awesome as well, and usually you have the ingredients in your pantry already.

Meet Up With Your Girlfriends

Girls – let’s be honest for a minute.  When something is bothering you, or your are stressed out, you need to get it out.  And how else better to do that than with one your best gal pas and a mimosa?  Find a neat and fun brunch spot where you can spend some time getting out your frustrations, but also keep in mind that misery loves company, so try not to let the entire brunch be negative Nancy.  Get out your venting, and then enjoy each other’s company {and one or two or three……..mimosas}

Yoga/Meditate/Stillness

Yoga always tends to bring out the calmness in me.  I can be a spaz at times, and yoga forces me to slow down, focus on my breathing and postures.  When I am practicing yoga regularly, I truly believe there is a noticeably difference in my personality.  The great thing about yoga is that the energy in the room comes 100% from the people in the class, and absolutely no one else in that classroom will be watching you or judging you.  I’m still trying to get into meditating, but I’ve heard it works wonders for your mind and body.

Running and/or Other Exercises

After a long and stressful day of work, sometimes I want to go home and take a nap, and sometimes I need to blow off some steam!  Exercising, whether running or completing one of my BBG work outs, is my go to.  Physical activity stimulates brain chemicals that can leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.  There are also many more incredible benefits of exercising, which I’m not going to get into now, but maybe in a later post.

Stop “Should-ing”

Shoulda, woulda, coulda.  I am guilty of this one big time.  Oh, I should have said it this way, or approached the situation that way, or should have gone grocery shopping yesterday instead of waiting until today.  Well guess what, you didn’t go grocery shopping yesterday, so get over it.  You gotta stop this.  All you are doing is putting more stress on yourself and no one needs that!  Instead of saying, “I should/shouldn’t have done this or that,” think “This is what I did, and this is how I will do it differently next time.”

Chamomile Tea Before Bed

Winner! If I mix in a glass of chamomile tea before going to bed after taking a lavender Epsom salt bath, I’m toast.  Literally dead to the world until the morning.  Chamomile is a daisy-like plant that has serious calming and anti-inflammatory properties.  It has been used for thousands of years dating back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.  Give it a try!

Gratitude Practice

One thing T and I have started doing every night is telling each other three things we are grateful for.  Sometimes we switch it up and just say three positive things that happened to us throughout the day, too.  It is amazing at how this positive, grateful mindset can transfer into the rest of your world.  And when your outlook on life is more positive than negative, good things can happen!  You just have to be open to them happening.

Bottom line – we are all busy #bossbabes just trying to make a livin’.  No matter what your situation is, I think everyone can fall into the “I’m so stressed out!” category.  It’s important to understand what your stressors are, and work on trying to resolve those as well.

Everyone have a great weekend and hopefully you find some time to RELAX!

Cheers – MP