Looking for Some Stress Relief for the Holidays?

 

Hello everyone. I hope all is well with you. I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. I know I did. We had good food and it was great to see my family.

I enjoy the holidays, but they can be stressful. From trying to prepare food, shop, and get togethers, the holidays can zap the positive energy out of anyone. I’ve put together a list of stress relievers I use to get my yin and yang back on track.

 

1. Go for a walk. Just getting out in the fresh air and walking for a little while does me a world of good. I usually go at least two miles so I can clear out all that negative mojo that’s been building up.

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2. Read. Immerse yourself in a good book. Did you know reading for just six minutes can reduce your stress level by sixty eight percent? What a way to calm down. So next time you’re stressed pick up a good book. It’ll do you a world of good.

 

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3. Get together with a friend. They say laughter is the best medicine, and I wholeheartedly agree. There’s nothing better than getting together with friends and sharing memories. It’s also a great way to deal with the stress of the holidays.

 

 

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4. Work out. Any kind of exercise is a great way to deal with stress. I run, and when I can’t run outside, I run on a treadmill. Not as much fun, but just as effective in burning calories and giving you the runner’s high that’ll get you through the day.

 

5. Hike. If you can get out into nature and hike, I recommend it. There’s something about being out in nature that is calming. In fact, it’s been scientifically proven that it’s beneficial for you. Check out my post on Forest-bathing, you’ll see there are health benefits from just walking in the woods. Forest Bathing

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6. Bubble baths. Nothing says stress relief like a bubble bath. Before I had kids, I’d take one after I ran. A double whammy of destressors, that’s for sure and some days I needed it.

 

7. Get a Massage. I can’t stress this enough. Getting a massage is an excellent stress reliever. In fact, it’s one of my favorites. It’s a great way to relieve those aches and pains as well and it’s good for your body.

 

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8. Binge watch a Netflix Series. This is a great way to relieve the angst the holidays can bring on. This is one of my favorite things to do especially when it’s cold and dark outside. There are many great series out there to watch. If you need a recommendation, just let me know.

 

 

  9.Go to a Movie. This is another way to get out of the house and relax. There’s             always at least one good movie playing at the theater and a great way to forget about the holidays for a couple of hours.

10.  Coloring. I know it sounds crazy, but there’s research suggesting that coloring in those adult coloring books is an excellent way to relieve stress. I haven’t tried it yet, but it’s on my list of things to try.

 

So there you have it, ten great ways to relieve stress over the holidays. I have a few favorites that work best for me and I’m sure you do, too. What are your favorite stress relievers? Leave a comment and share, I’m always looking for new ways to relax!

 

My Summer To-Do List

 

Hello everyone. I hope all is well with you. I’m back today and I’m excited about this summer. We only have thirty two more days of school left and that fact has me thinking about all the things I want to do during my off time.

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Summer is my favorite season. I love the heat and humidity and those summer nights when the stars are so close you can almost reach out and touch them. So I’ve been thinking about how I’m going to spend my time this summer and what activities I want to spend my time on. So, here’s my list.

 

• I’m working on revisions on a WIP right now that I’m totally geeked about. It’s turning into an incredible story and I can’t wait to finish it. That being said, I’ve got three other stories on the back burner that I want to complete. I don’t know if I’ll get all three done this summer, but we’ll see.

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• I love hiking and I want to spend a lot of time on the trails this summer. I want to go up to Tahquamenon Falls and hike through the area with my hubby and boys. It’ll be a fun adventure for all of us. I also want to explore trails closer to home so we can do some day hikes. I want my kids to unplug as much as they can this summer and get out into nature.

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• I want to take the boys kayaking. I think they’ll love being in the water. I know I do. I enjoy the peace of it.

 

• I want to spend some of my nights sitting on the dock at the cottage and watching the stars.

 

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• I want to spend time reading as much as I can. I love immersing myself in a good story. It relaxes me and there are so many good stories out there.

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• I want to spend time by the bonfire telling stories with my boys and sharing precious moments with them. They’re growing so fast.

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• Exploring new restaurants with my hubby which means more date nights! 😉

 

• Getting together with my Gal Pals. Because where would we be without our friends?

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• Walking by myself. I want to spend more time walking by myself. I’m an INFJ personality type so I crave alone time and walking is a great stress reliever and it’s a great way to work out plotting issues.

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• Binge-watching TV series and movies when I’ve got some down time.

 

I’m sure I’ll fit an amusement park visit in there somewhere with my boys. We seem to go at least once a summer. How about you? What are your plans for the summer?  Any new activities you can recommend for me? Leave a comment! I love hearing from you!