8 Things I Do To Relieve Stress

Ever since before I can remember I have had a knack for worrying about things that are out of my control, getting overwhelmed when situations get chaotic, taking on responsibilities that I may have known at the time would only add to my stress load but not wanting to say no because somewhere I believe I can handle it. Which in turn led to a lack of taking care of myself, feeling emotionally unstable and on the verge of tears/ a breakdown at any moment, feeling very disorganized in my own life and not being able to articulate to others what was going on with me because it made me feel like I didn’t have a handle on my own life so why would I want other people to know? Recently I’ve been working on really listening to my body and either getting to the root of the issue or getting it what it needs. We spend so much time trying to make it in this world sometimes we choose to ignore when our body is crying out for rest, food, just a little love. These are some things I do or have added to my priorities when taking care of myself and giving myself some much needed TLC.

1. Doing some perspective work: I don’t really know what the actual term for this is but I’ve really been working a lot on changing my perspective and trying to be more aware of what triggers my anxiety and how much of it is necessary vs. created in mind to make things worse. I’m learning how to check in with myself and ask myself vital questions like how is this serving me? Is this reaction warranted? What can I tangibly control right now? I know this last one is a little weird and dark but it’s is this worth getting sick over? The answer typically always is no. It’s been proven that stress not only can make you physically sick but can cause diseases within the body, especially when you allow it all to take over your thoughts and energy. I believe that what you put out in the universe whether it be words or thoughts but especially with meaning have so much weight! I’ve already wasted too much time with negativity and putting things that really don’t matter in the long run before my well being and mental/physical health. I refuse to do that any more and getting worked up just isn’t worth the time.

1. Workout: Cliche yet works! I think it’s really important to find a workout that you enjoy so much so that it gives you the ability to get out of your head and into your body. Something that challenges you enough to make you focus on the task at hand and when you finish that work out, you’re proud of yourself for getting through it. When I’m dealing with a problem or situation and I can’t seem to find a solution and all I’m getting out of it is just stewing in frustration, that’s the best time for me to go work out. My mind needs a break and by the time I’m finished the endorphins have hit, i’ve had time to shift focus and let that said situation breathe. That way when I come back to it, not only am I in a better mood, I’m able to revisit this issue with a fresh perspective having burned off some steam and knowing that I checked another thing off of my list that is only going to benefit me.
2. Some work outs I like to do outside of the house include reformer pilates and anything heated. (i.e. Hot Pilates, Corepower/heated yoga) Once things started to open up again, my friend Sarah went on to open up her own reformer studio which I take 2 classes a week, one Monday morning early to kickstart my week and one on Thursday to round it out.
3. For an at home workout I’m completely obsessed with Colombia Mafia Fit by Maria Leguizamon. I honestly can’t say better things about her 8 week Sculpt program 1.0. My friend had convinced me to buy it during quarantine and the results you guys, have been nuts! I don’t think I’ve ever seen results like this! I did the program twice and now I mix it in with my reformer pilates and it has been a recipe for the exact results I wanted. Next up for me is her Core Program. Linking her work out program page below but I originally tested out her workouts on her ig lives she has posted on her page @colombiamafiafit.

1. Take a Bath: Whether it follows the workout or just an isolated moment to myself, I LIVE FOR A BUBBLE BATH! That is my space to be absolutely alone, listen to my music and tell the world to politely F off. No calls, no emails, nothing but the sound of my off key voice bouncing off the bathroom walls. I bring all my beverages, a speaker or sometimes I set up my laptop if it’s a Bravo! binge and catch up moment but I real talk I love the bath and I can be in there for hours. (no exaggeration) I love buying all the bath time goodies such as candles, bath bombs, bubble bath, salts, soaps, the whole nine, in different scents, love doing a seasonal moment. That just got me so excited for Christmas scents! Here are some of my favorite bath time essentials which I will link to my Amazon storefront of all my bath time faves. 🙂

1. Journaling: I’ve just taken to journaling and I don’t use it per say in the way you would use a diary but as a way to organize my thoughts and goals. My brain was kind of like the inside of my purse, all the necessities and great ideas sitting there yet when it comes time to find them, I’m searching and I know it’s there but instead of pulling out a pen I have lip gloss. Writing my thoughts and goals down and making realistic markers for what I would like to accomplish for the day, week, month, etc has been such a game changer with my anxiety. I can see what is doable in the here and now to what will be long term goals and how to work up to them without feeling like I’ve missed something along the way. I write down things that I’m grateful for, what I’m proud of and words that I want to feel throughout the day just to set the tone of the day early. May sound stupid but little things really do go a long way especially when trying to combat day to day anxiety.

1. Find Sources: I feel like the best thing we could do for own well being and peace of mind is to give ourselves some grace and try to understand why we are the way that we are. Finding sources whether it be books, documentaries, podcasts, therapy, etc. that are based in questions you have about yourself are such vital pieces of knowledge so easily accessible to us. I, personally, suffer from a lot of childhood trauma. I’ve blacked out the majority of my childhood and most of the memories I have as landmarks for my ages throughout the years are bad ones. That’s not to say my childhood was all bad but it very much shaped the way I deal with people in relationships, friendships and the way that I’ve viewed myself growing up. Never going to be good enough, never truly believing in my talents or capabilities because I have my parents voices in my head being everything but supportive. The more that I look into childhood trauma and studies revolving it, I have come to understand why I react in ways that to others may seem irrational but to me it’s self defense. I would never have known that let alone be able to be aware when it’s happening in the moment and correct it without feeling any type of way but trying to feel better. I highly recommend it. The next books on my reading list are The Body Keeps the Score and It Didn’t Start With You.

1. Get Outside: You don’t have to go hiking or do anything that physical at all for that matter but if you have the ability to go anywhere else than where is causing you stress, DO IT. Go for a drive and watch the sunset, sit on a towel at the beach and listen to the ocean, call a friend, take the dog for a nice long walk, take a random mini adventure, just do something that gets you out of that environment and into some level of relief whether that be something stimulating or relaxing. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our lives and the bs that we forget to appreciate how beautiful the world around us is and how lucky we are to be breathing and just living life.

1. THC/CBD: End of the day come down, sometimes you just need a little aid in the relaxation department and throwing back a little thc/cbd cocktail might just be the thing or adding a cbd bath bomb to number 3. One of my favorite brands of infused drinks is CANN drinks. They have different doses for your preference ranging 2mg thc/ 4mg cbd in flavors like my personal favorite blood orange cardamum, lemon lavender and cranberry sage Sometimes relief and self-care come in different forms, I’m a California girl so of course I highly support anything that helps with relaxation and stress relief.

1. Netflix & F it: Listennn, we’re all human and sometimes the world can wait and for now I want to crawl into my binge streaming blackhole and resurface after too much take out and hours lost but guess what? That’s okay too! (just not for days on end because the couch will sink you in and next thing you know a week has gone by, 298 missed call and oh you’re fired) We don’t need that when trying to eliminate stress but self care comes in so many different packages and sometimes I just want to get lost in someone else’s story while wearing a face mask instead of thinking about what’s next for me and I think that’s okay too!

These are just some of the ways I like to handle my stress and make sure that I’m not overwhelming myself and allowing myself to live as happily and as worry-free as I can. I know with so much going on and being near the holidays it’s easy to put our well-being on the back burner to try to show up for others but just remember you can’t give your best to others when you don’t feel your best in your own skin. It’s okay to take “me time” and try to find your light and source of happiness, it will never come from another person, it can only start with you. Give yourself some love, you deserve it.

xx C