Wow. Today has been exciting. From teething troubles, to legal drama, and lots of stuff in between – I have had a buffet of stress all day long. There is nothing I want more than to curl up on my couch in a comfy blanket, light a pumpkin spiced candle, and watch Grey’s till I fall asleep. And then I want to sleep for about 24 hours. But instead of doing all that I am writing a blog post because, alas, insomnia has stolen sleep from my list of possible endings to this long day.
Since I am not sleeping I thought I would make myself useful by sharing a list of advice for other tired mama’s who may need a moral boost. These are things I do to reduce stress, and to relax at the end of long day. If I had my way, moving to a tropical beach would be at the top of this list, but while I wait for that to be possible, these 9 things really help.
9 Ways to Reduce Stress & Relax After a Long Day
Light a Candle
I love to turn off the lights and light a few candles. The combination of low lights and sweet scents make me feel serene and peaceful. This one is perfect for after the kids go to bed.
Splurge on a Treat
I have a secret candy stash. No shame. After the kids are sleeping I need something to motivate me through my long list of things to do. Usually a treat does the trick. Although, be careful where you hide your candy… I am still looking for a jar of jellybeans I hid a few weeks ago. Sometimes I am too good at hiding things.
Moisturize with Manuka Honey
You guys heard me talk about Organic Doctor last week and I couldn’t help but bring it up again. Every mama should have some Manuka Honey products from Organic Doctor in their skin care arsenal. Manuka Honey is known as ‘healing honey’ for good reason. It will firm up, restore and rejuvenate your skin. There is something so soothing about the moisturizing benefits of Manuka Honey Rescue Cream. I can’t get enough.
Light a Fire on a Cold Day
We absolutely love those instant fire logs you can get at Sam’s Club. Last year we got a whole bunch of them right at the beginning of summer. They were on super sale, because who wants fire logs at the start of summer? Us, apparently. We loaded our cart and it basically felt like stealing, they were so cheap. They were stored in the garage all summer long, and now we are reaping the stress relieving benefits of a warm fire every cool night.
Go For a Walk
Mix things up a little and get out of the house. Sometimes when you don’t have to do something, you just don’t. That is what I am like with getting out of the house. I love that my job requires me to shop a lot, because otherwise I would spend a lot more time sitting at home. On days where I don’t have to leave the house, I try to at least walk around the neighborhood with the kids. It calms the crazies a little, and fresh air always feels good.
Do Something you Love
For me that thing is singing. I love to sing and play the piano. When I need a break I sit at my piano and do just that. I tell the kids that mommy needs ten minutes to sing, and they can watch shows, play on the iPad, whatever. They love it, and I love it. It does my soul good to have just ten minutes to myself in the middle of the day.
Give Yourself a Revitalizing Facial
I love a good face mask at the end of a long day. It feels so cleansing. If I put the mask on before I start bedtime, I am ready to wash it off by the time the kids are sleeping. It is so rejuvenating! Organic Doctor has a great variety of face masks, but I love the Rose Otto best. The nutrient-rich clay based mask helps draws oil from your pores, leaving your skin feeling younger, toned, revitalized and purified.
Drink lots of Water
Staying hydrated keeps your energy up, which in turn makes you more motivated, productive and happy. I keep my fridge stocked with flavored sparkling water because they are an irresistible and healthy way to hydrate. I also noticed I drink a lot more water if I carry a water bottle with me wherever I go. It is a good habit to get into!
Soak in a Hot Bath
Soaking in the spa is my nightly tradition. Not only is it relaxing, it also soothes my sore muscles from carrying kids around all day. I get really bad shoulder and back pain. Sitting in the hot tub helps alleviate that significantly. You don’t need a hot tub though. Just run a hot bath after the kids are in bed and you are all set to kick up your feet and relax.
Whenever I feel too overwhelmed, I know I need to do something on my list of ways to relax and get rid of stress. I want to be able to laugh everyday, enjoy life and feel energetic. My kids deserve a happy, healthy mom, and I deserve to be moderately stress free! The list above helps me do that (almost) every day.
What helps you relax and avoid stress? How do you get through a long day?
Keep scrolling for more pictures or…
My Swimsuit: Nike | Zoey’s Swimsuit: SwimZip | Phone Case: Loopy