Life is never easy, but every now and again it is especially hard. This was my week to have a tough time. From busy work schedules, new norms with COVID-19, disappointments at home and work, physical aches and pains, this week has just not done it for me. I have been absolutely exhausted both mentally, physically, and emotionally.
I am absolutely exhausted and just at the end of my rope. Everyone gets to this point at some point, and that's okay. It's understandable, and sometimes warranted, but still something you have to deal with. So how do you survive those longs week? How do you make it through a week when the old saying of "Bad day not a bad life" doesn't help?
While I've never been able to find the magic combination of things that instantly solves anxiety and exhaustion, I have found some things that help me to keep my sanity during difficult times. I hope these suggestions help with anything you may be experiencing and can breathe some new life into your day.
1) Make a List of Everything Stressing You Out
For me, writing out what is worrying me helps me to organize my brain. Sometimes, it feels like writing out my thoughts can help me to realize how small my problems really are. Sometimes I also feel like I have a million things on my mind--when in reality I only have three things that are troubling me. Writing out my worries in a journal help me to pray over my concerns and to organize my thoughts.
2) Eat Your Favorite Snack
While you should always be wary of stress eating, it is still good to have your favorite meal, snack, or drink after a stressful day. Sometimes that little splurge can spark rejuvenation and relaxation. One of my favorite things is to have my favorite meal: fish tacos and queso! I also love a good glass of pinot grigio!
3) Enjoy Your Favorite Spa Products
Enjoy a face mask, a bubble bath, a foot scrub, etc. Taking care of yourself is so important and often overlooked. We can feel overwhelmed and tired yet still only take care of others and not ourselves. Pouring back into yourself with a little bit of physical relaxation can help reset your brain and breathe life back into your daily routine. I find this technique to be especially helpful on Wednesdays when I still have several more days to go in the week.
4) Listen to a Podcast
On your drive to or from work, while making dinner, or during your lunch break, take the time to listen to an inspiring podcast. Or you could listen to just a plain interesting podcast. Listen to a podcast about leadership, about travels, or about cryptids (my personal favorite.). You also could enjoy a fun YouTube channel that makes you laugh or inspires you. I've listed a few of my favorite podcasts below!
Lore
My Favorite Murder
Fixer Upper Podcast
The Black Tapes
Goal Digger
Do It Scared
Happier
5) Take a Bath by Candlelight
Speaking of taking time with your favorite spa products, take the time to take a bath by candlelight. There's just something about slipping into a warm tub by relaxing candlelight. Tip--get scentless candles and combine them with one scented candles. Too many conflicting scents can cause you get a bit of a migraine. Migraines definitely put a damper on relaxing, so try to avoid those by going to your local dollar store and getting scentless candles. If you still want a good smell, run a essential oil diffuser with lavender and lemongrass!
6) Read a Book with a Cup of Tea
Read a good book with a warm cup of tea. Find yourself a favorite mug (my favorite is a mug that says "Your Ladyship" lol) and make some hot tea. My favorite teas are Lemon Zinger tea and Citrus Sunrise. Find a self help book or an inspirational read--or just a plain interesting book and relax.
Some of my favorite books to sit down with and read are as follows:
Girl Stop Apologizing by Rachael Hollis
The Princess Diarists by Carrie Fisher
Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Throughout History by Ann Shen
Girl Boss by Sofia Amoruso
Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer
Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office by Lois P. Franklin
Living Courageously by Joyce Meyer
Get Your Hopes Up by Joyce Meyer
The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines
You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Spark Joy by Marie Kondo
7) Take 15 for Guided Meditation
I love a good bout of guided meditation. Now before I lose anyone worried about meditation, guided meditation is actually about picturing a peaceful setting--like a little paper boat floating down a river--and the narrator helps you to time and control your breathing. The narrator of the meditation session guides the imagery along. There are also plenty of guided Christian mediation sessions that help greatly reduce anxiety! There are plenty of amazing sessions on YouTube as well as the app Breathe.
8) Go Outside
Take a moment and be outside in nature. Breathing fresh, clean air helps to ground you and refresh you. I often find going outside and taking my shoes off and just feeling the grass in between my toes helps me. I also love getting to sit under the trees and watch the squirrels play or the birds flying back and forth.
Take sometime to take a small walk, get your heart pumping and lungs going! Sit in the sun and soak up the vitamin D for a minute. Smell some flowers or feed the birds! Visit a local park or just enjoy your own backyard!
9) Write a Gratitude List
Take time to count all of the things in your life that you are grateful for. Write about all the things you are grateful for today, and I have found that it helps me to realize that while I have a bad day--I do not have a bad life. Gratitude journals remind us of our blessings and the amazing things God has put into our lives. You can also do journal prompts for specific areas you are struggling in.
Such as:
What do you love about your job?
What do you love about your spouse?
What friend are you most grateful for and why?
What do you love most about your house?
What do you love most about your children?
What are you most grateful for today?
What do you have today that you didn't have five years ago?
What hobbies are you grateful for?
What family members are you grateful for today?
What co-worker are you grateful for today?
What do you love most about yourself?
What personality traits of yours are you most grateful for?
What about your body do you love? Why?
What about your appearance do you love? Why?
What talents do you have that you are most grateful for?
10) Turn on Music and Dance or Sing
This is my all time favorite thing to do! Sometimes I do it while my Assistant is at lunch, sometimes I do it while I'm cooking at home, sometimes I just sing loudly to myself as I fold clothes! There is just something about singing and dancing that makes you smile and lightens your mood. It helps me to release anything I'm holding on to and just live in the moment!
I adore musical songs or songs by Edith Pilaf for my de-stress playlist!
My top favorites are:
La Vien Rose
Burn: Hamilton
Tradition: Fiddler on the Roof
Getting to Know You: The King and I
Defying Gravity: Wicked
If I Were a Rich Man: Fiddler on the Roof
My Favorite Things: The Sound of Music
Say We're in Love: Oklahoma
Mi Lorde: Edith Pilaf
Padam: Edit Pilaf
Changed for Good: Wicked
On My Own: Les Miserables
Angel of Music: Phantom of the Opera
Chim Chim Cher-ee: Mary Poppins
I have many many more favorites and you of course have to include ALL Disney songs! Singing and dancing has always been something I have loved--especially after I started doing theater performances. Being in a play gives you so much more connection to the songs etc! You remember all the fun you had with your fellow actors and all the laughs!
I hope you found this list helpful and I hope that these will add to your bag of tricks for anxiety and de-stressing. Like I said, I've never found the exact combo that removes all anxiety, depression, or worry, but these things have helped make my life much more enjoyable!
Taking care of yourself is one of the BEST things that you can do for yourself, your family, and your friends! Be your happiest you!
Remember to follow us on the majors of social media and to have an amazing day!
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