Five Ways I De-stress

*Title photo via Pexels

Stress is the worst! We all suffer from it. Stress increases cortisol, which can lead to weight gain. As someone who’s on a weight loss journey, I don’t want that! Aside from the weight gain, stress in general just isn’t something pleasant to deal with. Here are my five top ways to get rid of stress.

Exercise. It’s proven that exercise releases endorphins, which make you happy! Not to mention, if you are particularly angry about something, it feels great to punch a punching bag or lift a bunch of weights. Put all that angry or stressful energy to some good use! By the end of the workout, you’ll feel so much better. 

Take a relaxing bath. Baths are awesome. Nothing beats the feeling of sitting in warm water with a bath bomb and some fruit! You can switch it up and use lavender oil too. I actually highly recommend lavender if you’re stressed, as lavender helps relax the mind. The smell puts you more at ease. That’s why so many spas use lavender extracts! You can add lavender to your bath via oil or actual flowers! If you want the flowers, but don’t want to deal with the messy cleanup, put the lavender in some panty hose and then tie a knot. It acts like a strainer into the bath and makes for super easy cleanup! You can also use this method with oatmeal, which also makes for a super relaxing bath (and it’s great for your skin)! Above, I took a bath with an orange bath bomb and slices of orange, grapefruit, and lemon. Add a candle for extra relation and stress relief. 

Watch TV. I know this one typically isn’t on stress relief lists, but it works for me! Sometimes after I’ve had a stressful day, the best thing for me to do is turn on the TV to something funny (like The Office) and just turn my brain off. After watching a few funny episodes of whatever show, I feel so much better! Drink some tea while watching TV to maximize de-stressing. My favorite is green tea. 

Distract yourself with baking or cooking. Cooking and baking take a lot of thought for me and therefore are very distracting. By the time I finish, I have forgotten all about whatever has been stressing me out. If I’m extra stressed, I like to bake. Nothing beats stress like licking the batter right from the bowl! Just don’t become too dependent on this method or you may end up where I was before I started my weight loss journey. Whoops! 

Take a nap! For some reason, whenever I am angry, sad or stressed, my body becomes instantly tired. It’s like it’s begging for a nap! When I allow myself to take a nap, I wake up feeling better. My mind feels refreshed and ready to tackle my problems. Sometimes my stress can stem from a lack of sleep as well, so this can help with that. 

I hope these five ways are helpful for you! What is your favorite way to de-stress? Let me know in the comments!