Free Your Body and Mind

Everybody has those days, where you feel like a grey cloud is following you around casting a shadow on everything. They can come once in a great while or happen quite often. Life can get pretty hard something may it be financial trouble, personal, or work related, and we can't let it take over. As our solution, I've researched some ways to evaporate that cloud and de-stress your mind. First and foremost, if your reading this and your stressed out... close your eyes for a moment and take 10 deep breaths. Sometimes just utilizing 2 minutes of our technologic, fast-paced, pixel viewing day can make all the difference, so put the phone down, close your eyes ( don't forget to open them once your done to read on (: ) and just breath. Refresh your lungs with an abundance of pure oxygen. Now, onto the stress relievers

1. Lavender. Anything with the scent of lavender will sooth your soul. Find some candles, or use Scentsy ( I swear by it ) Wickless Candles. Another option is oils and lotions, a lot of baby bed-time lotions are lavender scented for this purpose exactly, it's naturally calming. Concentrate on putting the oil or lotion on your declate ( collar bones ), behind your ears, or between your thumb and pointer finger. It sounds weird I know, but I do it all the time and the massaging of that area paired with the perfect aroma feels amazing. There are so many options when de-stressing with lavender because it comes in a variety of ways to use it. A personal favorite, bubble bath. Oh yah, fill up a hot tub and throw in some lavender scented bubbles, maybe even light some lavender candles and you'll be in La La Land in no time.

2. Exercise. Exercise is a medically proven way to relieve your mind and body of stress and anxiety. 20 minutes of physical activity can improve the next 12 hours of your mood. So find something you love doing that involves movement. Walk, run, dance, do yoga or pilates. If your one of those who really really isn't into exercising, save up some money and head to the mall. Walk around going into your favorite shops, pick out what you want to buy and put it on hold and once you've gone to all of them and chosen what you want, start back at the first store you went to and purchase your items. Little will your mind know you just worked out for probably the better half of an hour. Personally, I love to dance, I've never been in classes or anything like that but I really enjoy the freedom of mind and spirit it brings. Becoming one with a really good piece of music can not only be therapeutic but quite inspiring. Whatever it may be, just do it for at least 15 minutes when your feeling stressed out. Your sure to feel invigorated once you've got your blood flowing.

3. Socializing and Laughter. Laughter is proven to decrease tension and what better way to get a good laugh then going out with people you enjoy. Being with a group a people will give you a sense of belonging and companionship. Go out, stay in, whatever you choose to do be with people you love and forget about the difficult things for a while.

5. Go outside / Meditate. If your stuck in an office all day, when you're off take a couple minutes and get some fresh air. Or if you have a little more time, prepare a nice snack, grab a blanket and go outside and focus on nothing but inner peace and well-being. That, combined with the fresh air is sure to make you feel great. This is one of the benefits for me being a California Native, perfect weather, most of the year. So my opportunity for meditating outside is almost always available. If your not as lucky as me and live where the sun don't shine that's okay too, just grab a couple minutes of fresh air then go inside and meditate. This will put your mind and body at peace.

Favorite Pick; Write. Writing, obviously is one of the things I do more often than others, and that's because it's so therapeutic for me. Being able to write down your thoughts and feelings and actually see them helps to get organized and not feel so bloated with emotions or information. Whether it be blogging about fashion or writing about your days in a journal, writing is a great outlet for your mind. If writing isn't your strong suit, try drawing or coloring. It has a similar affect. 

So, go out, and free your mind and soul from the day to day stresses we all endure. Soothe your grey matter with one of these options, or find one of your own that works. Anyway you do it, never forget to take some time for yourself and to relax. I hope that even reading this post has chilled your head even a little bit (:

XOX,

- Mj