Be grateful.

Keep a gratitude journal and every morning, write down one thing you are grateful for. This helps switch you focus to the good things happening in your life.

Diffuse essential oils.

Lavender, wild orange, roman chamomile and vetiver are some of my favorite destressing scents.

Take a tech detox day.

Shut off all devices for one day. Sound terrifying? I promise you can do it. Taking a break from technology helps you focus in on the now, strengthens relationships and calms your brain.  Plus, it’s good to get away from EMF’s for a day (we’ll talk about those bad boys another time.)

Move your body.

You don’t have to have a sweat session at Orange Theory to reap in the benefits of movement. Simple things like stretching or taking a walking outside have powerful anti-stress benefits.

Turn up the tunes.

Crank up your favorite music. For added benefits, dance it out.

Submerse yourself in nature…or just stand outside.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to be in nature. Whether you take a long hike in the woods, or simply just walk outside in the sun and fresh air, connecting with nature will have a profound affect on your stress levels.

Meditate.

This doesn’t have to involve sitting in silence for hours in front of a Buddha statue (although you most definitely can).  Make it easy with guided meditations. You can find a bunch on YouTube or check out the Calm or Headspace apps.

Spend time with family and friends.

Spending time with family and friends will help release all of those happy making endorphins.  Get some hugs in there while you are at it.

Plan your day the night before.

I like to write up a quick list of all of the things I need to take care of the next day so that I wake up with my plan in place.

Reduce or remove caffeine.

Don’t hate me for suggesting this. Out of all of the things I ask my clients to avoid, this is the one I get the most kickback on. But the truth is, you may think that double expresso is helping you get things done when in reality it may just be increasing your anxiety.

Be nice to someone.

Buy the person behind you in line a cup of coffee or tell someone they look nice. Feel all of the good feels.

Treat yourself to some bodywork.

Whether it be a massage, facial, acupuncture, reiki- treat your body to some TLC.

Be a glass is half full person.

Focus on the positive aspects of the day.

Eat in a way that serves you.

Include healthy fats, tons of veggies, and clean proteins with every meal. We can’t always control the outside stressors in our lives, but we can control what we choose to eat.

Talk kindly to yourself.

You know that mean-girl/guy in your head? Time to let her go. Replace negative self-talk with words of love and kindness. “You are perfect just the way you are”- Mr. Rogers. Oh, and if you haven’t seen the documentary about him yet, get on that!

Laugh!

Laughing has been shown to help the brain regulate the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine and produce endorphins, our bodies’ feel good chemical.

Say no to things that don’t serve you.

You don’t have to do it all. It’s OK to choose sleep over a late night out, or skip that 3rd happy hour of the week and have some “Me-time” instead.

Take a yoga class.

Yoga helps bring you back into the “now”. Nothing amps up stress and anxiety than freaking out about what’s to come. Even 15 minutes of yoga, several times week has shown to have positive effects on stress levels. Don’t have time to make it to a class? Check out all of the options online and do it from your home. Yoga With Adriene is a great one.

Breathe.

Sounds simple, but most of us spend our day taking shallow, insufficient breathes. Take a breathe break a few times a day and focus on getting some deep breathing. Breathe in for the count of 4. Hold for the count of 2. Release for the count of 8.

Focus on good sleep hygiene.

Sleep makes life better. Focus on getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night. Check out some of my sleep hygiene tips here.

Choose a book over TV.

Reading helps you temporarily escape the real world and all of the stress it holds. It also has been shown to reduce heart rate leading to a feeling of relaxation.

Spend time outside planting flowers or gardening.

This is my jam. There is nothing more relaxing to me then digging in the dirt and planting veggies and flowers.

Declutter.

“Cluttered spaces are chaos for the mind, overwhelming already-taxed brains with too much sensory information”- Psychology Today. You don’t need to do a whole house overhaul to feel the positive effects of de-cluttering. Start by hanging up that pile of clothes that has been accumulating in your bedroom. Or clean out your junk drawer.  Check out “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” by Marie Kondō