On The Go Stress Relief Kit
Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RelaxWithStressballs #CollectiveBias
Stress Less. Live More.
Simple Natural Things to Do to Destress All Day Long and Into the Night
Let's talk about stress and more importantly, simple natural things you can do to deal with it because you're probably already familiar with stress (or you wouldn't be here reading this) and you want real answers when it comes to steps you can take that will actually make a difference and get you in a stress-less and live more frame of mind, right?
Life can be stressful whether you're in the middle of a life storm or not and there are simple natural ways to take that nasty nagging stress down a few notches so that you can focus on the joys and happy moments of life and not those things that take you out of those moments.
I have personally tried each and every one of the steps I'm sharing with you today and they have all helped me to get over the stress hump and move on with my day and sleep well at night.
Joy and Happy are what I want for you so let's dig right into those tips and as a little treat, I'm sharing a tutorial for an On the Go Stress Relief Kit plus a printable for a set of stress relief mindfulness cards so you can remember these tips even when you're on the go. It's such a cute kit and super easy to make...you'll love it!
Stress Relief Tips
Over the years, I've learned that if I let the stress and overwhelm of all I have to do get to me, I function at a lower level and the tips below help get me back on the right path.
Step One - BREATHE
This seems simple enough. I mean, you're breathing right now, right? But, the kind of breathing I'm talking about is deep breathing. Close your eyes (if you can...so, seriously, not while driving) and breathe in very deeply and slowly through your nose. When you've taken in all the breath you can, take in two more short quick breaths and then slowly release the breath through your mouth.
In my experience, I find that doing this approximately 8 times is enough to bring me back to a state where my stress is no longer hyper and frantic and more manageable. Depending on your starting stress level, this one step may be enough to bring back a sense of normalcy.
Step Two - POSITIVE THOUGHTS
When you move to this step, think of a stop sign.
When you notice the stress, STOP, and ask yourself what you're thinking about.
Sometimes, you may know in an instant but other times you may have to dig around your brain for a while to figure out what's going on. If it's a negative thought, do not allow it to take up valuable real estate in your mind. Stop the negative thought and take action to replace it with a healthy, positive thought.
This one takes some practice as the negative thoughts are sneaky, but after a while, you'll be capturing those negative thoughts quickly and you'll find this kind of stress happens a little less often.
Step Three - CONSIDER SUPPLEMENTS
Supplements are a wonderful natural way to get stress relief and some of the most common and effective ones are listed below:
Lemon Balm, Ashwagandha, Valerian root, Ginseng, and Lavender
I have tried all of the above in one form or another and recently tried them in the form of Stressballs Day and Stressballs Night gummies.
Stressballs Day and Stressballs Night are new and exclusive to Walmart.
I had to work and had several active projects but my mind was all over the place. I literally could not focus on one thing. I took two Stressballs Day and within about 15 minutes, I was feeling so much better. I was able to focus and felt re-energized. It was honestly amazing.
And to back up a bit, the night before, again, my mind was all over the place and I was doing my usual deep breathing routine, added some positive thoughts, and calming music, and still, I couldn't fall asleep. I took two Stressballs Night (the recommended amount) and shortly after that, I had such a nice ease into sleep. It was wonderful and the next morning, I had no fogginess or grogginess so I can personally attest that this worked wonders!
If you're interested in getting Stressballs to help with your daytime and nighttime stress, simply hover over the above photo to click through and purchase at Walmart! I made it easy for you to order your own so you don't get more stressed. 😉
Just a few more notes about Stressballs, they are a new gummy herbal supplement product rooted in stress management and they work!
They help keep stress levels in balance all day and all night by providing natural remedies in a drug-free, habit-free naturally flavored herbal blend.
I keep a jar on my desk (Stressballs Day), a jar in my nightstand (Stressballs Night), and now, I keep some with me on the go in my stress relief kit (see directions and info below).
If you don't order online, you can get them in the store and even though they're new and exclusive I saw some just last week in the aisle with sleep aids.
Step FOUR - EXERCISE
Exercise is one of the most important things you can do to manage and deal effectively with stress.
It doesn't have to be anything demanding, unless you like to challenge yourself with exercise, and can be something as simple as a walk, a bike ride, or in my case, some stretching and breathing.
Remember, you don't want to increase your stress so choose something that you enjoy doing!
Step FIVE - Gratitude
Grab a journal. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just something you can write your thoughts down in but the purpose of this journal is gratitude.
Focus on the things you're thankful for, the positive things in your life and write them down. I also like to sometimes add little sketches so I can "see" what I'm thankful. Once you start doing this and making it a habit, you'll be shocked in a very good way as to how much you have to be grateful for and just how many wonderful, positive components there are to your life.
It may be helpful to keep this with you even when you're out so that if negative thoughts start to come to you, you can stop them (see Step Two) and replace those negative thoughts with thoughts of gratitude.
Step SIX - Listen to Soothing Music
The type of music you listen to can change your mood in just minutes. Choose something relaxing.
A good place to start is by listening to slow-paced instrumental music such as classical music or some lovely nature sounds.
Keep a playlist of songs that fit the bill and that you enjoy on your phone and click play as soon as you sense your stress levels rising.
Step SEVEN - Cuddle
Cuddling your favorite humans or animals helps to relieve stress! A quick hug. A meaningful kiss. Holding your pet on your lap or just petting them all count as a cuddle when it comes to helping to relieve stress.
Step EIGHT - Light a Candle
Light a candle or infuse some essential oils. Either of these practices can help to lower stress when you choose the right scent. Lavender, bergamot, chamomile, frankincense, sandalwood, and orange blossom are all good go-to scents for when you just want a sense of calm to wash over you.
Step NINE - Laugh!
Laughter is always good for you and is yet another great (and easy) way to bring your stress down.
Find a new comedian and listen to a few minutes of their routine. Watch a favorite comedy show or search for a new comedy and just let yourself laugh.
What to Do When You're Out and On the Go
If you're on the go and some of the above tips just aren't doable, I've put together a little kit with printables that you can keep with you and use just for these times.
DIY On the Go Stress Relief Kit
Supplies:
Mint container - the little plastic ones that snap open and shut easily
Fabric of choice - a small scrap will do
Mod Podge
Foam Brush
Drill with a small bit or nail - anything that will make small holes in the side of the mint container
Key chain ring
Scissors
Stress Relief Mindfulness Cards (one-page download you can grab here)
Clear contact paper for front and back of cards
Stressballs Day
Instructions:
Remove the label from your mint container.
Cut out a small circle of fabric that will fit the top of your container. This step is optional but it looks cute when hanging it from your bag. If you're just going to keep this in your purse, you can skip this and the next few steps.
Use a foam brush (or craft brush) to place a thin layer of Mod Podge on the top of the mint container and place your fabric scrap on top of this. Smooth out any wrinkles and apply a thin layer of Mod Podge on top of the fabric paying special attention to the edges. Allow to dry.
*Add some ric-rac or other trim to the edge if desired. This is just for looks!
Drill two small holes on the rim of the container.
Slip the key chain ring through these holes.
Print out the stress relief mindfulness cards. Cover with contact paper, front and back, and cut out.
The cards were made to fit into your new On-the-Go Stress Relief kit.
Add a few Stressballs Day and your kit is complete!
What are some of your favorite ways to de-stress?
"This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease."
