Tricks of the Trade: Quick ways to fight stress

I’m not going to lie, these past few weeks have been especially tiring for my husband and I. We moved house, Tristan had the worst case of teething imaginable, I got sick and Carlos had to undergo minor surgery. I don’t know how I am blogging right now, but since I found the time and blogging relaxes me, here I am. I am actually having a difficult time putting our current situation into words because it is all so overwhelming. This explains why I took a short break from blogging and posting on social media–I needed time to just take in our new situation and rest.

During my time off, I researched quick and easy ways to de-stress and uplift my mood. This was the best idea ever, because I immediately felt better once I started taking care of myself. As a bonus, most of the things I tried worked and I didn’t need to leave my house or pay a thing. I guess it really pays to incorporate me-time into a busy schedule (as moms we are always last on our priority list). Here are super easy tips that worked for me when I was super stressed out. I hope they work for you, too!

Do the hot-cold plunge. One way to recharge your batteries when your energy is low is to do the hot-cold plunge. It is simple: start with a warm shower then increase the temperature to really warm, then switch to a burst of cold, then back to really warm. People have been doing this for centuries when they want to feel energized (notice how they have hot and cold pools in the spa), and you can totally do it in the comfort of your home. This works for me in the morning when I have a long day of work ahead of me and I have to be awake and productive. Don’t overdo it though; a cycle of one to four rotations is enough for one day. Oh, and if you are pregnant or have high blood pressure, you might want to skip this.

Try aromatherapy. I recently discovered how wonderful essential oils are and how beneficial they are to our health. This deserves its own blog post (this week, I promise) so I wont get into it now. But can I just say, all you need is a drop of lavender (to relax), peppermint (to invigorate), or orange (to lift the spirits/calm the nerves) to instantly elevate your mood and put you in a happy disposition. So what you do is you put a drop of the essential oil in the palm of your hands, rub it, apply on your neck and shoulders and immediately breathe in the scent in your hands.

Ban headaches. I usually get migraines or headaches when I’m stressed out. It really is the worst feeling in the world (with the worst timing) and if I can find a way to not have a headache, I would. I did a bit of reading on this and found that the cause of most migraines can be directly linked to a magnesium and calcium deficiency in the body. I didn’t think this applied to me until I began taking these supplements, and I have to say, it worked. Also avoiding triggers like red wine, cheese, citrus, caffeine and chocolate helped. I found out these types of food were actually causing my migraines, and yes, I used to indulge in these whenever I was stressed out.

Dry brush. I always wondered what those long-handled natural-bristle brushes were for–until I discovered dry brushing. It is basically brushing your entire body before taking a shower. This helps remove dead skin, boosts circulation and makes you feel energized. I didn’t think it would work until I tried it, and now I do it once or twice a week. So what you do is you brush your legs, then arms, and start from the tips of your fingers and toes towards the heart. You can brush your torso toward the heart, as well, but be gentle with the breast area, and avoid the face. You’ll notice that you will feel re-energized and smooth all over after showering.

Stand up straight. I’ve always had bad posture. This is something I want to change, and its a constant battle because I have to keep reminding myself to stand/sit up straight. I found out the body holds stress–physical and emotional–in strange ways, which is why it is so important to be aware of your posture. It takes a lot of practice to make it a habit (this is something we can all work on together). Looking at how I stand in the mirror has helped me correct my bad posture, as well as doing stretching exercises in the morning.

Massage your ears. Most of us forget the ear is loaded with acupressure points, which can relax and energize the entire body. A quick way to relax and de-stress is to massage your ears between your thumb and index finger, from bottom to top, and back down again.

Let me know if these work for you. Leave a comment and say hello! <3