Say Goodbye to Stress

How do you deal with stress? If you often find yourself ignoring your to-do list while eating a pint of ice cream, we hear you. But you can't ignore stress--it will just get worse. So today we are bringing you 5 tips to banish stress in your life, with some practical items to help you out!

De-Stress First

Ok, we know this one sounds ridiculously obvious. But before you can truly set up habits to prevent stress, you need to de-stress. Your first step is to take an evening to get some R&R--soak in the tub, read, listen to calming music, wear a face mask, sprinkle some lavender on your pillow and go to bed early. This will help relax you and set you on the path to a stress free life (ok, as stress free as life can get) so that you will be ready to handle whatever gets thrown at you!

Don't know where to start? Check out these relaxation items to help calm your pent-up stress:

 

Get Some Zzz's

Raise your hand if you got your full 8 hours last night. Anyone? We'll admit it...we don't always get as much sleep as we should, either. It seems that when our lives get busy (or we just want to watch one more episode of Netflix...), sleep is the first thing to go. But there's nothing that affects our bodies and stress more than our sleep--if there is one tip you implement from this list, this should be it! So here is your challenge: turn off your phone, the lights, and your brain and get 8 hours every day this week. You'll be amazed at how much better you feel!

Have trouble sleeping? Maybe these can help:

 

Sweat It Out

As much as we'd sometimes like to ignore the research out there, exercise really does help relieve stress and provide energy. It can be hard to find the time to work out (or just get our butts off the couch), but the payoff is worth it! Exercise gives us endurance to handle the day, and it ups self-esteem. Sign-up for a new class or call a friend to be your work out buddy and hold you accountable. We love to be lazy, but in the end a little sweat makes us feel better!

These might get you motivated:

 

Eat Up

Is wine a food group? Veggie pizza counts as a healthy dinner, right? Ok, obviously we don't always make the healthiest choices. And while we're never going to turn down Taco Tuesday, only eating junk can take a toll on our bodies. It makes us sluggish and clouds our brains, which definitely makes it harder to deal with stress. This month, commit to making three healthy dinners a week. Getting some greens and healthy protein into your diet will up your energy and cognitive function. Dust off your recipes Pinterest board and make something healthy and new! 

Jump start the deliciousness:

 

Write It Down

Bear with us--we know this one is a little cheesy. Every night, write down three things you are thankful for or three great moments from your day. We know--this is on every "ways to be happy" list out there. But there's a reason for that! Making note of the good parts of life puts the stressful parts into perspective. It reminds us how lucky we are and that any stress we're dealing with is totally worth it. Plus, looking for the good in your day will start to become a great habit. You'll begin to notice all the awesome things in your life like never before! 

Never tried this challenge? Grab a journal and see for yourself how your attitude changes:

And always remember--you got this!