The holiday season is such a wonderful time of year, but if you are like me, you have got lots going on and it can be hard to relax. Somehow, even though our travel plans are limited and gatherings are not what they used to be, my life feels super chaotic right now. Between my full time job, blogging here and on The Crystal Press, and helping to run Let’s Talk Towels, I feel like I am unraveling at a rapid pace. The stress of the pandemic and some other issues close to home are overwhelming and I have had to take a step back and find ways to make myself STOP.
Of course, I have to continue to work, and creating content for the two blogs is what I love to do, but there are other ways to try and help myself feel more balanced. If you are feeling the same, for whatever reason, I hope that these steps will help you too!
PUT YOUR PHONE DOWN – We are straight up addicted to our phones. That is the only way to put it. Give yourself time away from you phone. Whether it means putting it away for a few hours at work (if you can) or if it means giving yourself a limit at night, this one is so HARD but so necessary. If you are like me, you have trouble just putting my phone down. When I do put my phone down, I find myself just instinctively picking it up not even 5 minutes later. I am trying to get better about this, and Catherine gave me the idea to put the phone across the room, that way you have to make the conscious decision to get up and get it.
MOVE – Now that we have moved into the winter months, this one has become more and more difficult for me. For the past few months, I was walking a few miles everyday, but since the temperature dropped I have been horrible about moving my body. I am still not comfortable going back to the gym, so I need to go back to my beginning of quarantine routine of moving, dancing, stretching in my living room. Whether you like guided youtube workout videos, or are like me and like to do your own thing, force yourself to move your body at least 30 mins each day.
MEDITATE – Meditating isn’t for everyone. Turning off your mind and focusing on meditation can be hard but if you are able to do it, it can be life changing. Also, if you are looking for a meditation that you can literally fall asleep to – I recommend Kelly Howell’s Secret Universal Mind Meditation, which we shared on The Crystal Press.
GET A MASSAGE – If you are comfortable going to get a massage right now, do it. Like meditating, it is a time where you are completely free to do nothing and calm your mind for an hour or so. Catherine and I recently had spa days at Scents of Serenity here in Richmond and it was JUST what I needed. We felt safe, wore masks, and left there feeling much more relaxed than when we walked in.
GET OUTSIDE – I know it’s cold outside, but fresh air does wonders for the soul. Bundle up and take a walk, or if you are lucky enough to have any hiking trails near you, get out for a hike. Nature always helps.
GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK– All of the above are a part of this. We can all be so hard on ourselves during stressful, busy times and it is important to remind ourselves to take a break, relax, reset and recharge to stay sane. Take the pressure off your long to-do list and let yourself live a little. Literally and figuratively, give yourself a break. For me it is giving myself a day off of instagram, but for you it might be having a glass of wine at 5 o’clock, taking a long lunch or letting your kids have extra screen time. This will look different to everyone but it is oh so important!
ALL THAT BEING SAID, I hope you guys are having a great holiday season. If it has been stressful for you, like it has for me, I hope these steps make it a little easier.
<<JUST A LITTLE FRIENDLY REMINDER>>
~ pin for a reminder later ~
Meditation helps me relax, especially this holiday season when I feel the pressure to stay happy always. I love your boots!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
I believe 2020 has slowed me down on its own and I have started taking stock of my emotions and mental health. Even amidst the craziness of this year, some how I have found a little sliver to silver lining in it all.
❥ tanvii.com
Getting outside and moving are two big things for me! It helps with my anxiety 90% of the time!
YES to all of this! I feel this one a deep level right now. Might take a day off and just do all of this lol!
Lizzie
http://www.lizzieinlace.com
Author
RIGHT?! you deserve it!!!!! I can only imagine the stress from moving!
These are all such great tips, especially for this tune of year!
I also struggle with just stopping and could afford putting some of these tips into practice more often. Needed that reminder, thanks for sharing! xoxo, Sarah
Author
i think as content creators, we all could! there is such a pressure to always be working!
I was just mentioning to my husband the other day how I would really love to get a massage sometime soon. My stress definitely manifests as tension in my upper body and my shoulders and neck have been murdering me lately. Thanks for these tips and the reminder to just SLOW DOWN. It’s not always a bad thing!
Author
it is so hard as content creators, we are just constantly doing SOMETHING!! and also, highly recommend scents of serenity 🙂
Such an informative and needed post. And yes you deserve it!
These are such great tips! I just finished a very stressful semester at Notre Dame, and I’m now working a full-time internship in commercial real estate, taking a financial modeling class, and trying to run a blog all at the same time! I could definitely work on relaxing and stepping away from the 24/7 grind. Thanks so much for your insight!
I totally needed this read – especially as we head into the new year! Definitely need to remind myself to take a break every once in a while.
Author
this remains SO TRUE even into 2021~!!!