The last couple of weeks have been just crazy for me and my stress levels were high! Most of my days were jam-packed with tasks and activities. At my 9-5, my workload was steadily increasing, as we are preparing our students for standardized state testing. I was trying to balance work, create content, and the everyday duties of being a mother. I found myself in an unhealthy space! My body was telling me I needed to decompress, but I wasn’t listening. It wasn’t until I started getting frequent headaches, and found myself being really snappy that I started to realize stress was taking a negative toll on me.

One day I said, enough is enough! I needed to take control and decompress daily to avoid my stressful day turning into stressful weeks. Here are 12 ways I unwind after a stressful day!

Deep Breathing

Taking deep breaths can ease tension and allow you to destress. I usually take a deep breath in and slowly let it out. As I let it out, I count to ten. I repeat this as much as needed until I feel calm.

Meditate

You don’t have to be a pro to have a relaxing mediation session. I usuallly sit quietly, close my eyes, and focus on my breathing. If you are looking for more, there are also tons of free mediation apps that you can access on your phone.

Read a Book

I am a true bookworm. I have always been this way! Unfortunately, I don’t get to read as often as I would like. Currently, I am actually challenging myself to read at least 12 books this year. When I feel stressed, I carve out some me-time and do things I enjoy, such as reading! Getting caught up in a good book can have you feeling more relaxed and less stressed. I am currently reading a book by one of my favorite authors, Eric Jerome Dickey.

Aromatherapy

Burning candles has always given me a relaxed feeling. I tend to burn candles that have soothing properties, such as lavender, eucalyptus, and chamomile. I purchase all of my aromatherapy candles from Bath and Body Works. I also love that they carry bath products infused with aromatherapy essential oils. Taking a nice relaxing bath in their bubble bath while their candles are burning is one of my favorite ways to decompress.

Take a Day Off

I don’t know if your 9-5 is like mine, but sometimes, you just need that extra day off. I am an educator, so I work Monday through Friday. We are off on the weekends, but they seem to go by so quickly. Not only that, I was finding myself doing “teacher work” on the weekends, which really wasn’t allowing me to take a break from work! There was a point in time, where I would sit in the car and say, do I really have to go to work. When these feelings of resentfulness started to kick in I knew that I needed to leave work at work! In addition, I had to let myself know it is OK to take a day off every now and then when needed, especially if you are feeling stressed out.

Listen to Music

I am a music lover! Music makes me happy. I can go from listening to the smooth tunes of Jhene Aiko to listening to my favorite rapper Meg the Stallion and suddenly become in a better mood.

Disconnect

Sometimes it just feels good to just go offline. Turning off phones, computers, and disconnect from the outside world for a little while. A few hours off of social media or the phone will do the body good!

Exercise

I have always loved exercising. Lately, I haven’t been as consistent as I’d like to be. Exercising helps me to take my mind off of the stressful day. My mood is instantly better. Instead of focusing my energy on what caused my stress, I put all my energy in the exercise. I usually feel great after I exercise and get a burst of energy.

A Glass of Wine

I enjoy occasionally having a glass of wine, especially after a long day. Having a glass or two of wine can have relaxing effects on the body. According to Science*, wine has many benefits to your body, as long as you are not overindulging! Some of the benefits include:

• Keeps our heart healthy*
• Healthier skin*
• Prevents obesity*
• Boosts your immune system*

Go Outdoors

When the weather is nice, I love being outdoors. Sometimes I sit out on my patio and watch the trees. Other times I may spruce up my flowerbeds. It feels so peaceful to be outdoors and connect with nature and the beauty around me.

Journaling

Journaling is something I just started to implement. I used to write or jot down my thoughts on my phone, but something about physically writing down your thoughts and feelings is very therapeutic. I am currently using the Too Blessed to be Stressed Journal by Debra McCoy. I like that this journal focuses on stress management and includes scriptures and devotionals from the Bible.

I hope you found these 12 tips to manage your stress helpful! I make sure to make a concious effort to practice what I preach, especially on those stressful days! I can’t walk around here looking all stressed out and I know you feel the same way!

What are some of the ways that you manage stress? Let me know in the comments.