Life is hectic. Work, kids, household, marriage, and finances can all add up and take its toll on stress levels. I should know, the title of the blog is Just Short of Crazy for a reason. I spent years trying to juggle it all without taking care of myself and it wasn’t pretty. When I realized that taking care of me was the best way to take care of everything else things got a lot better. If you are feeling stressed and wondering what to do try a few of these tips on a regular basis to help you de-stress and feel refreshed.
1. Meditate. Take 10 or 15 minutes to clear the mind. Some call it meditating, I call it me time. Find a quiet spot, usually helps if the kids are napping or at school, sit down and get comfy and just breathe. Close your eyes and take a deep breath in and slowly let it out. Try to quiet your mind and release all the tension and stress that has been building up. The goal is to think of absolutely nothing and have a couple of minutes of complete calmness. Now, some days this is easier than others and it takes practice, but I always feel better after taking a few minutes for myself.
2. Enjoy a cup of herbal tea. I found Buddha Teas and have been loving them. Their whole focus is on instilling inspiration and a peace of mind to those who enjoy herbal teas in their purest form. I find sipping a cup of hot herbal tea before bed helps me relax. I really enjoy Buddha Tea’s Papaya Leaf Tea which has zero caffeine and is light and flavorful. I’ve even started packing it on trips so that I can enjoy a cup of tea each evening in my hotel.
Each bag of tea comes with an inspirational quote on the tea tag as well. “Make Time For Yourself” and “Each Cup of Tea Is An Imaginary Voyage” are two of my favorites. In addition to having the largest selection of teas worldwide, Buddha Teas are also GMO free, no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives, and only use bleach free tea bags.
Buddha Teas has black teas, green teas, specialty teas, and 85 herbal teas. That is a lot of tea and there is sure to be something to please your taste buds. I am going to try the Chakra teas next. They offer a tea for each of the 7 chakras. That is just interesting enough to make me want to give it a go.
3. Take a walk. Getting outside and moving is a great stress reliever. Even a 5-minute walk is helpful. It can be challenging, especially in the winter, but if you can get outside, breathe some fresh air and clear your mind things usually look better. In the winter I don’t go for walks, but I do try to step outside on the deck for a few minutes. A few stretches and, if it’s sunny, soaking up a few rays usually help reduce my stress. Trust me, I’m not out there long. I’m not a fan of cold weather and the sub-zero temps in northern Michigan have me running back inside. Summer is a different story and if you can go for a walk on the beach it’s even better.
4. Turn off all the gadgets. That’s right. TV, phone, computer, tablet, etc. Shut it down and walk away for 30 minutes. Use the time to read a book, wash dishes (for some reason I find washing dishes very relaxing), or play with the kids. 30 minutes away from technology can do wonders for your stress levels.
(c)https://www.flickr.com/photos/aheram/409863531/
5. Journal. Take all the issues and problems that are bothering you and write it all down in a journal. Its cathartic getting it off the brain and onto paper. Reading back through the journal can help you find a good solution to issues. Not sure how to start? I found this great article on Everyday Health that shares tips on how to start to journal and what to journal about.
disclosure: this post brought to you by Buddha Teas. all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Love Buddha Teas- their papaya leaf is very refreshing!
These are really useful tips that I can use right now. I’m too stressed with work. 🙁 I go to the gym three times a week and run on the treadmill to clear my mind. Turning off all gadgets can be hard but it’s worth a try.
Stress I think is a double edged sword because I believe that a little stress in the form of a challenge can be a healthy way to grow but too much stress can lead to a whole heap of both physical and psychological problems. Stress can often be managed by managing your internal representations through personal development and i strongly believe that everyone should learn this even if it’s just a little, no one should have to go through life stressing the little things when they don’t have too!
This is an awesome list and all so true! I am 5 for 5 on this list! =) Turning off gadgets and drinking tea are my favorite. I normally just put netflix on and cuddle under the blankets. Tea is my thing. It just relaxes my bones and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy =P Thank you for sharing these great tips! More folks need to find was to relax. Life is too short to be stressed.
I totally love de-stressing with herbal tea! It tastes great and It really does help me calm down!! Thanks so much for the fun post!! I totally needed it!
Getting out for a walk or just peace and quiet is extremely relaxing to me. These are all great ways to destress. I would love to be at the beach in your pictures looks so calm!
It is so easy to forget to take care of ourselves with our busy schedules but it is very important. I believe that only when we look after ourselves can we truly be in the right state to look after our families. Thanks for these tips I need to practice them more often.
Did you write this post for me? Just kidding! But really this is something that speaks to me and something I needed to hear. My biggest problem is gadgets. Our lives are FILLED with them and they suck me in! I need to work on that!
These are all such great suggestions. I am currently pretty wiped out, and after making a few more blog comments I am looking forward to getting unplugged. And drinking some tea….because it isn’t cocktail time yet. Thanks for the reminder of how important it is to take time to ourselves!
I love all of your tips, thanks so much for sharing. I usually fix herbal tea and turn on some music along with lighting a candle to help me destress. I’m going to try your other suggestions as well, especially taking a walk. I should walk more, I feel great afterwards. Thanks again.