It's the summer, and though jobs, family responsibilities, or summer classes may already be piling on the stress, it is healthy to allow yourself to take a break and treat yourself to some quality relaxation time. Here's how.
Make tea.
Find a tea flavor you like and that fits the time of day. In the morning, drink caffeinated tea (personal favorite: Good Earth Sweet & Spicy); in the evening, drink camomile. If you're not a tea drinker, make yourself some other beverage -- coffee, hot chocolate, cucumber water, lemonade, etc.
Play music.
Jam out to your favorite songs, or, alternatively, play some relaxing instrumental music in the background. Just YouTubing "relaxing music" mix will come up with a number of playlist options.
Find a good book.
Remind yourself of the joys of reading for fun. Find a novel you can lose yourself in. If you're not much of a book reader, take some time to just look up and read some articles. I'm going to assume you are at least an article reader; otherwise, I'm not sure how you're reading this.
Take a bath.
Nothing spells relaxing like a warm scented bath. Locate some scented oils or Epsom salts and soak for a while. If you don't have a bath tub, take a warm shower. Put your pajamas in the dryer before you get in so they're warm when you get out.
Find a soft blanket.
If it's a hot day, find a thin soft blanket, turn on a fan, or sit on the blanket. Having a soft blanket around will just make you that much more comfortable.
Get a face mask.
These can be very affordable and easy to find. They are simple to apply and they will leave you feeling pampered when you are done.
Find a show to binge.
This could be an old series you are a big fan of or one you have always wanted to watch but haven't gotten around to it. You could even try your luck with a round of Netflix Roulette, just be aware of the dangers at stake.
Find a relaxing craft.
You can do this while you watch your binge show and it could include knitting, cross-stitch, or sketching. You could even try baking a new recipe. Whatever sounds fun to you; its your day.
Take a break!
This is both my final and my most important point. It doesn't matter exactly what it involves as long as you feel mentally rested when you're done. Take a nap or, if you aren't the napping sort, just daydream for a while. Listen to music, play music, read, watch -- whatever makes you feel happy and stress free.
Happy summer to all! Treat yo' selves.
