When it comes to stressful situations, everyone has different ways of winding down. These 11 tricks are my favorite ways to calm down even when I am in the midst of a million different things. From events like finals week, to school in general, or things as simple as getting up on the wrong side of the bed. Not to mention the holidays are coming up fast, and that alone can make life a little stressful and crazy. These tips are made to help you take a breath, and to put yourself into a state of mind that makes even the craziest of things in life become bearable.
1. Take a breath and a bath!
Using bath bombs or Epsom salts, climb into a warm bath, and take deep breath. I have always found this to be so calming when I needed to take a break from the world and from other people. I tend to lean toward Lush products, however, there are bath bombs and Epsom salts made and sold at a ton of retailers. If you are the creative type, you can also spend some time making your own bath bombs right in your own home! I have found myself doing this on more than one occasion, and even the process of making them yourself can help to ease your mind of the daily stressors in life.
2. Make a cup of tea.
Although most college age students learn to rely on coffee to keep their academic and social careers in tact with all-nighters and hours of homework, tea is a great alternative to calm you down instead of hype you up. Certain kinds of herbal teas such as Chamomile and Lavender tea both act as a stress relieving agent to help calm you down, and sometimes even help you to sleep. I have found that vanilla herbal tea is also very calming and helps me sleep at night when I have had a crazy day or week.
3. Meet up with some friends.
Friends are around to help you through the rough spots in life, right? Being stressed is the perfect time to meet up with some friends (whether it is friends that are seen daily, or if it is friends that have not been in touch for a little too long), and catch up with them. Doing things as simple as hugging a friend or venting to them can help to blow off some of the steam that has built up. Even if your schedule is too packed to be able to meet up physically, take 5 minutes out of your day to call them on the phone. Sometimes, it is the little things that matter most.
4. Listen to your favorite music.
Who says that letting go is a bad thing? Do not be afraid to sing and dance your heart out if it helps you to feel better. Whenever I find that I am too caught up in the bad things in life, I blast my favorite songs in my room or in my car, and suddenly I am in my own world I do not care at all about what people think while I am singing at the top of my lungs and dancing like nobody is watching.
5. Nails! Nails! Nails!
Sometimes, a girl needs a little pampering. Go out, get a manicure and pedicure, and sit back and enjoy the "you time" that you are getting by just taking care of your body and your mind. When stressing about life becomes a top priority in life, a lot of people let their body and minds go; a key to feeling calm and back to normal is to remember that your body and mind always comes first. Even painting your own nails or having friends do it for you should have the same calming effect.
6. Make sure you are getting enough sleep.
When it comes to sleep schedules, they are one of the easiest thing to throw off, and one of the hardest things to get back. Getting stressed out can keep you from falling asleep and waking up when you are supposed to, and this can cause problems within the social aspect of your life as well as within your body psychically. Messing up your sleep schedule over a long period of time can lead to sleep deprivation, so making sure that you are sleeping at least 8 hours a night if possible is essential. Sometimes a small nap (no, not sleeping the day away), can help you to feel replenished as well if you did not get enough sleep the night before.
7. Face Masks
Classic spa day, basically! Stressing out can lead to breaking out and rashes on the face, which certain face masks can help to prevent and fix. Lavender is perfect for an aromatherapy experience as well as soothing for even the most sensitive of skin, while clay masks dig deep into pores to help prevent and treat acne. Pair face masks with a hot bath and your favorite music, and it makes a pretty calming and stress-free atmosphere.
8. Be mindful of what you are eating.
Stress eating is a huge problem that most people have, even without realizing it. Diving into comfort foods like ice cream and french fries may lift your mood temporarily, but if you are stressed often enough, and you grab for the comfort food again, it can cause weight gain without any initial satisfaction besides lifting your mood for a few minutes. Instead of the sugars and sweets, go for something healthier like fruits or smoothies to help boost daily energy, and not daily carbohydrate intakes.
9. Keep a journal.
As mentioned earlier, venting can help to relieve built up pressure and stress that you might be feeling. Sometimes, talking to other people about it is not an option, or maybe it is not a first choice. In this case, my favorite thing to do is to write about it. Get paper and pen, and write down all of the things that are bothering you along with all of the emotions and feelings that are running through your mind at that particular moment. You can keep it to look back on later, throw it out, tear up, or burn it; however you feel is best to help cope with the emotions running onto the paper.
10. Meditation and Yoga
I have used both meditation and yoga to help calm my body and mind when I need it most. Doing yoga as little as 5 to 10 minutes a day can help to drop your stress levels and improve your flexibility, which in turn helps to keep your body happy and healthy despite the stress that might be lingering in your mind. Stress also raises your blood levels and your heart rate, and the combination of controlled breathing, meditation, and physical poses can be a huge help with fighting those negative attributes involved with stressing out.
11. Turn off your phone!
Yes, all the way off! I know that nobody these days wants to turn off their phone and disconnect from the world around them, but sometimes it becomes necessary. Turning off your phone when you get stressed can keep you from getting distracted when trying to be productive, as well as taking that time to focus on the solutions to the main stressors involved in your situation. Even if you simply turn your phone off for a half hour, it becomes a half hour of having one less thing to worry about.
