The Four Ways to Give Yourself a Break

It's okay to admit it. You're stressed out.

This was a blog I was working on before Coronavirus became the tornado that wrecked all of our lives -- it's only more applicable now! Stress is a natural human emotion and it's okay to feel. However, how you deal with it is everything.

I still struggle with anxiety, but it's much better than it used to be. Before I discovered the joys of mindfulness, my mind was a wound-up toy, looking for reasons to run all over life in the wrong way. I'd hang out in grocery store parking lots, nap or spend way to much time in the restroom! Not much of a way to spend life...

Nowadays, when I'm struggling with stressful thoughts, I do one of the four things:

1. Practice Yoga

No yogi card needed! All you need is an internet connection and a soft place to take a lotus position. Here is my go-to musical playlist, a mediation playlist designed to pick your mind up off the hamster wheel of life and instead put you in a better place.

2. Take a Bath

When's the last time you gave yourself a bath? We associate the activity with young kids, but adults need the soothing feeling of warm water and bubbles on their skins. In addition, the feeling of slowing down and closing your eyes while taking in a hot bath cures so many anxieties. Of course, if you're looking for a soap to give yourself a good rub with, I have plenty of natural and vegan soaps for you to buy...

3. Guided Meditation

This is somewhat related to the first point, except you can do this without leaving your bed! When stressed, I like to take out the lighter and burn a little sage, search "guided meditation" on YouTube and throw on my eye pillow as I cuddle up in bed. No ear plugs though!

In case you're looking for eye pillows to sooth headaches and give your mind a general rest, check out the kinds I make for Wisdom Body & Soul! They're little bunches of comfort.

4. Diffuse Essential Oils

I love this step because of how little work it requires. All you need to do is purchase a diffuser and some essential oils, put a few drops of the latter in and poof, calm will fill the air after a few minutes.

Of course, with a little Wisdom Body & Soul essential oils filling the air, you'll receive all the relaxation your mind and body crave!