Over the past few days, my anxiety has flared up drastically and ever since Sunday evening, I have been doing everything in my power to keep myself feeling relaxed and calm. It hasn't been easy... I mean, heck, I have been crying on and off for days! However, I have found a few techniques that have been working really well for me. Although lifestyle posts are not my usual thing (I usually post one every few months or so,) this topic means an awful lot to me as I have suffered with both anxiety & depression for years now and so I thought that I would hop online & share a few of my tips with you all. I hope that you find them helpful!
1. Colouring
Adult colouring books have become all the rage this year and I have well & truly jumped on that bandwagon. I honestly do believe that doing something creative can give you something else to focus on your attention on - plus, its pretty fun too! The two books I currently own and am working my way through are Millie Marotta's Animal Kingdom and the Zen Colouring Advanced Art Therapy book - which I strangely couldn't find online! Concentrating on such a simple task is really helping me to pass the time and I am really enjoying experimenting with lots of different colour palettes too.
2. Apps
I had used a few apps in the past but have never used them on a regular basis. However, I have re-downloaded a couple to help me through this difficult period that I'm having. There are so many apps out their that help you deal with stressful situations but my favourites are 'Calm' and 'Headspace.' I think it's really important to actually listen to your body and to your emotions rather than suppressing them and these apps allow me to do just that. Simply lying down or sitting somewhere quiet, listening to some relaxing sounds or going through a guided meditation is really helping me so far!
3. Lush baths
Last but not least, you can never go wrong with a good old-fashioned Lush bath. Pamper nights are one thing that I can always rely on to make me feel a little better. Using a bath bomb or taking the time out to give yourself a manicure may seem pretty trivial but I find it really useful. Different things definitely work for different people! I love how scents can relax me and a bubble bath can really make all the difference if you are feeling tense too!
A few extra tips:
- Listen to your body; make sure you are getting enough rest and are eating properly.
- Never be afraid to talk to your friends and family about how you are feeling.
- Take everything one step at a time, so that everything feels more manageable.
- Most importantly, be proud of yourself for getting through each day!
I hope that these tips may be helpful to some of you, as I am finding them to be quite useful for me this week! Hopefully I feel a lot brighter and less anxious soon! If you have any tip of your own, please feel free to share them with myself and other readers by leaving a comment down below :)
Setting aside some time to relax each day can prove to be quite difficult for those with busy lives. However, it is crucial that we all have some time to ourselves every now and then in order to unwind and de-stress. So today, I wanted to share four of my favourite ways to relax at the end of the day that keep me calm and also allow me to get a good nights sleep too! Let's get started.
1. Read a book
One of the best ways to unwind after a long and stressful day is to read a book. It is a well-known fact that delving into a bit of fiction allows your brain to switch off from all of the hectic things going on in your own life. It's so fun to escape your own troubles for a while and fully immerse yourself into a great storyline!
2. Light a candle
Lighting a scented candle in the evening is another great way to relax. There's something about dimmed light and the subtle sound of a flickering flame that is soooo soothing! It creates such a lovely ambiance and it also feels pretty romantic too, which is great if you are planning to have a cosy and chilled night in with your loved one!
3. Have a Lush bath
This is probably known as the
most clichéd way to relax but taking a nice, long
soak in the bath is a really great way to unwind. I love using Lush products as they are a lovely treat and they make bath time so much more fun, what with all of the different scents and colours! You could also listen to your favourite music to set the mood and
turn your bathroom into your own private sanctuary. To pamper yourself
even further, why not apply a face mask too?
4. Use a pillow spray
Last but not least, using a pillow spray before you go to bed is a great way to relax your mind and make you ready to hit the hay after a tiring day. Just a few spritzes on your pillow is all you need! I really recommend the 'Deep Sleep Pillow Spray' by This Works, as it contains three essential oils (including lavender and chamomile) which our renound for helping you drift off at night time.
So, those are my top 4 ways to relax at night time. All four of these techniques really do make a difference and they definitely make me feel a lot calmer and rejuvenated! I hope that some of you may find these ideas helpful, as it is so hard to combat stress these days. Do you have any techniques on how to unwind yourself? Please let me know by leaving a comment below, I would love to hear your suggestions and how they differ from mine!
