Stressed?

Stress always brings out the bad things - restlessness, negativity, anxiety... boo! I'm determined to not let stress damage my health anymore, so I've been trying to set better habits to stay healthy and de-stressed in the long run:
Stay positive. We say this a lot but often it's easier said than done. Smile more, laugh more, take it easy.
Know your limits. It's always good to try your best at everything, but it's a fine balance to not push yourself to a point that you're stressing out your body.
Slow down. Especially those who live in a big city like me. Big urban cities tend to be so fast paced that everyone seems to want everything now. I'm going to try to stay efficient but at the same time slow it down a notch, take breathers in between things.

(It's been working well so far! It makes me feel silly how just a change in mindset has helped me so much... why have I been stressing myself that much before?)

On top of that, here are a few immediate stress relievers that I've found helpful. And no, the stress ball is not one of them. I say ditch the stress ball... It doesn't help at all.

[all images from Pinterest]

Slow hot showers. (pamper yourself with body scrubs and loofahs)
Healthy snacks, fruits in particular. (feel good from the inside out)
Chocolate and other sweet treats. (in moderation. No stress eating!)
Hot tea instead of coffee. (less caffeine)
Home cooked dinners. (take your time and savor in comfort)
Aroma candles and reading. (try lavender for better sleep)

And blogging has helped a lot too. Writing and photo editing is therapeutic!

And finally, the classic quote on stress that is silly yet so true. Treat yourself and actually enjoy it after a long day:

I hope this helps inspire you to make some changes to your life too if you're feeling stressed (or stressed and not aware of it like I was)
Now it's time for me to grab that pint of Dreyers Toasted Almond ice cream in my freezer for some d-e-s-s-e-r-t time.

Have a relaxing, stressless week!