#howtoavoidstress

I've failed you all, yes I can admit defeat, a few weeks ago I came on to this little corner of the Internet to profess accountability, and have since failed terribly. Life gets hard and busy, and full of unexpected events but there must be a way to handle it all right? So I'm here to ask you how you all deal with stress, because lately I haven't been doing a great job at it. What are some tips and tricks to unwind after a long day? So far I have tried some different tactics and I'm here to share them with you. Some have helped but some have had no effect at all they are all great ways though so drop me a few of your suggestions

For Valentine's Day my fantastic husband booked us a couples massage, and it was the best 60 minutes I've had in a long time, very peaceful, relaxing. The masseuse was brilliant, they didn't try and sell to you while massaging, mine in particular would find a knot and really focus there, and any other high stress areas she felt. That was probably why I enjoyed it so much, for my first massage experience I walked out of it like I was floating. 

I've been on a mission to find a scent that signifies our home, you know what I mean each home has a smell so when you have your sweater on throughout the day you get a whiff every once and a while and go ‘ahhhhh home’. Am I alone there? alot of my memories are tied to smells and so it's important to me that our home had a smell that would remind me of it when I was out of home and having a bad day. While at the mall -excuse me; the anti mall- Artegon which I whole heartedly recommend if you ever find yourself in the Orlando area,  we purchased an oil lamp and a fresh linen scented oil. It adds a refreshing clean scent to our place each time we come through the front door we are greeted by fresh air, also the lamp provides nice ambient lighting as well which is fantastic. 

I have also started using a sound machine overnight I tune in to the ocean sounds, the only drawback to that is waking up rushing to the bathroom multiple times but ocean waves do have a way of getting me to bed fast

Also while doing other home tasks, and getting some work done I listen to the spa radio on pandora, I'm a Pandora fan much more so than any music streaming, the spa radio is possibly the most calming mix of sounds everything is just so soothing you can't help but be relaxed especially when Enya starts to play. 

I've found winding down with a cup of hot tea cinnamon tea preferably has also helped me turn down and get ready to turn in for a nights rest. A hot cup of tea and nice little snack and off to bed 

Now it's your turn what helps you get ready for bedtime, what helps you manage stress, and how do you avoid getting overwhelmed. Especially all my brides to be, it's very common to get stressed and overwhelmed while planning the wedding, all the above things I've been trying should apply to you as well, perhaps eating into a routine of pampering is also a great way of having me time where you don't have to plan anything at all, schedule an hour or so a day where you aren't doing anything at all, just relax take a breath, go for a walk, read a book, get a manicure, anything that isn't whatever gets you overwhelmed. So go ahead ladies as the wise words of tom haverford ‘treat yo self!’ 

P.s don't forget to check out my other little project duhmericanapodcast.wordpress.com