RESCUE Yourself: How I Relieve Stress

Let's face it: life is busy. We all have a million things going on and feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done. Right now I'm working 45+ hours a week, spending 30+ hours a week on my blog {writing, shooting & editing photos, maintaining all my social media pages, attending events, etc.} and serving on two charity boards. I love everything I'm doing, but I'm not going to lie: I get pretty stressed out sometimes and feel like I just need a monthlong vacation away from it all! Since that's not really possible, I have to look for other ways to relax, stay stress free and keep all of my responsibilities balanced. I figured a lot of you out there could relate, so I decided to talk about the 6 most important ways I relieve stress today.

1. Get a good night's sleep. I can't stress enough {pardon my pun} how important a good night's sleep is to stay happy, healthy and on top of everything. There's nothing worse than tossing and turning all night just to wake up feeling even more exhausted than you did the night before. I struggle with anxiety, and it often manifests itself at night when I'm trying to fall asleep. For some reason, everything I've been worrying about {even subconsciously!} decides to pop up right as I get into bed. Did I drop off that last FedEx package before I left the office? Respond to all my blog emails? Send out the meeting invite for the Animal Rescue League meeting? My mind gets so filled with thoughts and it feels impossible to turn it off! Luckily, I found Bach RESCUE Sleep liquid melts, which are natural, gentle, safe to use and non-habit forming like so many sleeping aids or pills can be. They're really easy to use - just let one dissolve under your tongue before you go up to bed - and are really effective in helping me fall asleep quickly after I lay down. I definitely recommend trying them out, and you can find them at your local CVS, Whole Foods or Walgreens. Download a coupon here before you buy them!

2. Treat yourself. You don't have to go shopping at Saks and blow your budget on a Chanel bag or pair of Louboutins, but get yourself something small that will make your hectic day just a little bit brighter. I love treating myself to French macarons and my favorite flowers {peonies} when they're in season. I don't think spending money is necessary for treating yourself - you can just take a couple hours for yourself to lay on the couch, watch your favorite movie and let the day's worries disappear. It will do wonders for you, I promise!

3. Spend some time outside. One of my favorite ways to clear my head and reduce stress is to go for a nice, long walk along the Charles River, especially during the fall and spring months. I put on my headphones, listen to music, and focus on all the beautiful things around me instead of my anxieties. During the summer, I head north to my favorite beach: Plum Island. I swear that when I cross the bridge from Newburyport onto the island, I can feel my blood pressure drop and I'm transported to my happy, relaxed place. :)

4. Read. I've been a voracious readers since I was a kid, and getting lost in a good book also means that any stressful or negative thoughts I've been having will get lost as I get absorbed into the story! I find curling up with a good book to be one of the best stress busters out there, and I prefer to do it with a nice, warm blanket on top of me and Phoebe and Oliver close by. Petting their soft fur and hearing them purr also helps reduce my stress tenfold.

5. Make yourself a cup of tea {or pour a glass of wine!} Tea and wine are my two favorite beverages, so you can see why they'd be huge stress relievers for me! Sometimes there's nothing nicer than coming home from a stressful day, making yourself a cup of tea and taking a moment to relax and savor it. My favorite is jasmine green, and the scent alone makes me happy! If I've had a particularly trying day, I'll swap out the tea for a glass of red wine in one of my sparkly glasses. 

6. Take a bath. Sadly, I don't have a tub in my current apartment, but my mum's house is only 45 minutes away and I will make that drive just to take a bath! {And to visit with my mum of course, because I love her very much.} I throw in my favorite floral scented bath bubbles or bath bomb, light my favorite candles and let all the stress melt away. I desperately miss the tub in my old Fenway apartment, and I will not move into another apartment unless there's a tub - you can mark my words! 

What do you do to relieve stress? Let me know your top ways and what you think of my tips in the comments below!

This post was brought to you by RESCUE products. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.