Darling Don’t Forget About Yourself |self care and stress management tips|

With summer coming to an end that means the non-stop relaxation feel of summer will be replaced with due dates, books, and test. But even though school will be back in that does not mean you can’t take the time to relax and recharge, the time you need to be able to do your best. Going into my second year with a full course load and a part-time job this is something that I find my boyfriend always has to remind me about. There have been many times throughout the first year that the hustle and bustle of juggling work and school have exhausted me to the point of tears and it felt like I just didn’t have enough hours in the day or even week to get everything done. But with a little reminder and a breather, I started to take notice when life seemed to start spinning a little too fast and found some great ways to slow it back down. And maybe some of these will help you too!

The first thing I did to get it under control was, I started to notice the little things I did, ‘the indicators’ I would call them that would allow me to know that the weeks to come would turn into a frenzy of stressful days and nights. I paid attention to how I react to stress in general. And for me, that would be feeling teary and overall pressure to do good at everything and everything I did. I mean everything from eating properly to getting the best grades and keeping up the appearance that I was doing great in all aspects of life. Some of my ‘little indicators’ were skipping lunch to do school work, to sleeping in or not going to bed on time, to just plain and simply procrastinating, to handing in assignments with the mindset of “that’s good enough, I don’t care”.  All these things seem small and minor at the time but after a week they surely catch up with you and can have you racing to fix the “that’s good enough” assignment and getting all the things done that you didn’t before because you were procrastinating. It leaves you feeling exhausted and with no time for yourself, plus not to mention this stress takes a toll on your happiness and health. But in the end, most of it is avoidable with simple planning and taking the much-needed time for yourself to relax and recharge.

Taking time for yourself to relax and recharge doesn’t have to cost a fortune, no need for a three-day spa retreat or pricey facial. Take the time to focus on you for a day, do something that makes you smile and feel pampered or just takes all the those racing thoughts away. Buy a new nail polish and paint your nails, do your hair and makeup just the way you like, throw on your favorite outfit and rock it. Doing little things that make you feel good can boost your overall mood for the day and it can change your whole mindset too. So here are a few of the little things I do when I need some much-needed relaxation time and to get out of my own mind.

1. Take a drive out of the city and when I was home it would be down a back road.
2. Journal about the day or anything really, just writing in general works wonders. Let your mind wander!
3. Buy a new book to read.
4. Treat Myself, whether it is an ice cream or latte or smoothie.
5. Try a new DIY facemask.
6. Take a bath with epsom salt, a bath bomb or bubbles.
7. Pour a glass of your favorite wine.
8. Turn up your favorite songs and give yourself a mani-pedi.
9. Try out a new recipe you have been wanting to make.
10. Get dressed up, hair, makeup, and outfit. The whole nines!
11. Go for a walk.
12. Explore a new place.
13. Watch your favourite movie.
14. Light that candle.
15. Do some planning or rearranging.