As April is Stress Awareness Month, so I thought I would share a post on how I relax and kick back. According to the NHS, stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure. Pressure turns into stress when you feel unable to cope. Many of life’s demands can cause stress, whether that is work, money and relationships to name the most common causes. As individuals, we all have different ways of reacting to stress, so a situation that feels stressful to one person may be motivating to someone else.
Now I have an exceptionally demanding job, I also blog regularly, I am a Wife, Daughter, Sister, Auntie, Cousin, Niece, Friend, In-law all of which make demands on my time of course. I have a flat and three cats to look after. All of this comes with stresses and strains, some more manageable than others and often being under pressure brings out the best in me BUT... learning how to switch off, wind down, take time for me and just relax is something I find hard to do and to coin a phrase 'I have ants in my pants', I am often fidgety. So how do I calm down, take a breath and not let it all get on top of me?
Lists. I am an avid list writer. On my desk at work I have a weekly planner from Busy B Stationery and a to-do list and this helps keep me motivated, on top of things and focused. This list never ever gets completed but I do get some satisfaction from crossing out things I have done, things that have been finished or finalised and by adding extra items, no matter how important (like ordering more envelopes) keeps me grounded. I find writing my lists by hand quite therapeutic and whilst I am adding that list or crossing out, I am focused on what needs to be done.
Reading. I am a bookworm and read a lot. I travel too and from work via bus and get around London via Tube, during that time I read. If you follow me on Goodreads, then you will know that every year I set myself a target of how many books I should read. Again, this is a list system of sorts because it organises my books in order of date read and there is a comprehensive list of books I want to read and a list of books that people recommend to me. I am by heart a Crime Thriller girl, though am known to read the odd Chick Lit novel if the story grabs me.
Bath time. At least once a week, I have an hour to an hour and a half in a hot bubble filled bath. In that bath I will have on a facemask and perhaps even a hair mask and I will lay back on my bath pillow and just forget about anything existing outside that door, other than Hector my kitten who will sing to me in the hope I will let him in the bathroom to practice his balancing act along the bath. Otherwise I am in that bubble filled bath with my book/Kindle and I am forgetting about you all.
Box Set Marathon. It is rare I sit down to watch the television. I don't watch the soaps and I don't have the TV for the sake of it. I am a huge football fan and I do love a good documentary. So instead I like to find a series and watch it - Grey's Anatomy, Nashville, Devious Maids, Wentworth, Criminal Minds, CSI, Bluebloods, Quantico, Black List and so on. Those are some of the programmes I am making my way through and in doing so, once again, I forget about anything else.
Colouring. I love to colour things in. I have about three or four art therapy books in my collection currently and any excuse to buy pretty coloured pens I am there. Colouring is actually really therapeutic, my mind is totally focused on not going out of the lines (seriously) and I can lose hours just colouring pieces of paper in, in a book.
I now just need to learn to leave my phone and social media apps alone for a few hours!
How do you relax, sit back and forget about the stresses and strains of everyday life?
I wish I had a bath in my home, only got a shower which is nice as makes me get ready quickly but I destress with a nice cup of tea watching box sets
ReplyDeleteAhh great list! I also enjoy list writting its one of my fave things!! Your cats also sound awesome haha but 3 of them ooo! Snap on criminal minds!! I'm slowly making my way from season 1-11 i'm pretty addicted at the moment and this does actually help me forget my stresses but also makes me so nervous because of the storylines!! I also wrote a post the other day on relieving stress https://mylifeinrosetintedglasses.wordpress.com/2016/04/17/7-ways-to-de-stress-and-remain-human/ xox
ReplyDeleteI love reading and even better reading in the bath with lots of bubbles X
ReplyDeleteMiss Kitty Kaos - Adventures Of A Riot Grrrl
I love a good list! I am also a fan of colouring. Last year I bought a book and pencils for a friend who suffers with depression and anxiety and she says it does really help.
ReplyDeleteI am also a big advocate of exercise or at least getting out for a walk too. Just listening to the birds or watching the clouds. Great post
Hi Rachel, very good blog post. When I think of stress it bring me back to when I was working in retail and I was majorly stressed and depressed. A period of time I never ever want to go back too..
ReplyDeletewww.annanuttall.com
It seems that colouring in is getting more and more popular as a stress reliever. Great list, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI find it had to relax too and I'm constantly multi-tasking. I'm meant to be taking it easy recently but I'm finding that whenever I free up my time I quickly fill it up with something else! Boxsets are my go-to too, it used to be my Sex and The City boxsets but that's now been replaced with Netflix binges (currently Pretty Little Liars) :) xx
ReplyDeleteI used to teach meditation and mindfulness and they are brilliant to help with stress. I am quite stressed right now, so need to use it again. Kaz x
ReplyDeleteReading and baths really help me relax, too! And I am also a list writer. I love a good list.. and stationary! Having a list and nice stationary helps to keep me motivated too :) Great post. xx
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! Reading blogs and binge watching videos from my fave Youtubers always helps me. I've recently started meditating before sleep, and it helps me sleep through the entire night :)
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I love writing lists my phone in the notes section is full of them! I'm also a big fan of baths especially lush ones!
ReplyDeleteSophie
xx
www.pocockins.co.uk
A good bath to good music always destresses me! I also like a good dark chocolate, has to be dark!
ReplyDeleteOliver • http://suedeandsymphony.com
I always feel stressed. Ive started trying to take time out with a book though and it definitely rests my mind
ReplyDeleteCat x
I love reading and find it totally relaxing, I just wish I had time to do more. I have also recently fallen in love with colouring too =)
ReplyDeleteI don't really get the chance to relax but a nice stroll along the beach sorts me out
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise it was stress awareness month. I get stressed very easily. Love the tips you've written. I love writing lists too x
ReplyDeleteLists help me out a lot, I've recently been writing through every day of April about self care (I had no idea it was stress awareness month!) and that's helped me to figure out how to prioritise myself sometimes xx
ReplyDeleteAh you can't beat a good list! :) To-do lists are inherently soothing I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteJess xo | The Indigo Hours
I really don't feel relaxed in a bath... I hate when it goes cold haha. I love reading and watching rubbish tv relaxes me too :)
ReplyDeleteWhich boxsets are you indulging in at the moment?
ReplyDeleteHands up I have to admit I had no idea April was a de-stress month and now I've gone and missed it! I love your tips.x
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