Well what a week it has been.
Whether you voted in or out or neither, I think you will agree it has been a week, or at least a few days fraught with high tensions, strong opinions, anxieties, worries and brexit-mayhem. You can’t get away from it either, everyone is talking about it, social media went insane with it and I think it’s just something on everybody’s mind, thoughts & conversations. I honestly have felt SO stressed out over these last few days and I think you will agree that everyone needs to reign it in a bit, pull together and try and work it out.
This weekend, I have tried my best to switch it off a bit ; step back from the interweb, take time to myself and just shake all this negativity away. I have a few go-to rituals that I turn to in my times of need, and wanted to share with you some of the ways I try and de-stress and clear my mind & body. I have been doing A LOT of this over the weekend and there is no time like a Sunday to pamper yourself and de-stress the system.
SWITCH IT OFF
The internet. The TV. I have found a new love in listening to podcasts and reading books instead of spending 1 hour scrolling through Netflix/Amazon to find one goddamn thing that looks half decent that I haven’t already watched (can we talk about Preacher on Amazon? OMG so good..). We bought this SONOS thingy-ma-jig which is in the lounge (wanna get a few more in different rooms) which at first I was a bit *meh* about but I can control this speaker from my iphone wherever I am in the house and listen to my crappy playlists or my podcasts. I absolutely love it now and 50% of the time when I am @ home/working I have podcasts playing instead of the TV.
HAVE A SOAK & PAMPER
An actual cure for high tension and worry I promise. There is something so relaxing about being on your own, having a candle burning and just having a good soak in the bath. I have recently starting using the Better You Magnesium Salts which are amazing for detoxing the body and soothing the mind. Magnesium is essential for the body for muscle function, energy production & skeletal strength and when you soak in these salts for 20 minutes they will replace magnesium lost through the modern diet & pressured lifestyle resulting in a sense of well-being and overall relaxation. The magnesium used in this is pharmecutical grade and the most potent and pure that money can buy. To use you simply add the salts (2 cups) into your bath OR you can also put them into a foot bath.
Whilst you are in the bath, give yourself a mini-facial, by deep cleansing, exfoliating and using a mask or two. The Una Brennan Rose Hydrate scrub is a new favourite of mine, and smells absolutely gorgeous! It is a face scrub that is packed with oils and moisturisers so gives a good dose of hydration at the same time as exfoliating and brightening the skin. When I first applied this I assumed it was a clay-based scrub as it is quite a thick paste but no clay in sight, so will not dry or make the skin irritated. The scrubby particles are reasonably course so give a decent exfoliation which I really like.I like my exfoliants to feel quite course and this is a great balance…and costs under £10. Go try.
Once I have exfoliated my skin I like to slather on a thick layer of the Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask which is one of my all time favourites. It’s a bit of an all-in-one mask that cleanses, hydrates and is also an anti-bacterial/anti-blemish treatment. You can see my full review of this here.
AROMATHERAPY
I’m a huge fan & it just *works*. Aromatherapy uses oils from plants & flowers to enhance psychological and physical well-being. Aromas of these oils can enhance brain function and hit the blood stream when absorbed into the skin to enhance your mood and state of mind. I turn to aromatherapy on a daily basis to calm my nerves, anxiety and to help me relax.
I am a huge Aromatherapy Associates fan and swear by their bath & shower oils. A current favourite for when I am feeling lowly and little sorry for myself is the ‘Support Equilibrium‘ oil which is like a great big comforting hug in a bottle and designed for helping anxiety. It has first-pressed essential oils of Rose, Geranium, Frankincense & Bergamot. Simply add a capful to your bath or massage onto your body pre-shower to allow the oils to penetrate the blood stream and get to work.
Another alternative to using Aromatherapy oils to relive and de-stress you is to apply directly to the wrists and behind your neck with a handy roll-on formula. My favourite for de-stress being the This Works Deep Sleep Stress Less oil which is a little rescue remedy in a bottle, and I travel with this and keep it in my handbag as it just helps (a little) with my anxiety. You can also apply this directly to a tissue and inhale as it is also a great decongestant.
BURN A CANDLE / ME SPACE
Yes it’s that simple. Turn off any harsh lights, and instead let a candle give you a softer and warmer light , and a lovely relaxing scent. I like to create a bit of ‘ME SPACE’ when I am feeling over-whelmed or such, where I will de-clutter an area, make myself cosy, grab a book and have a lovely smelly candle burning. The This Works Deep Sleep Heavenly candle is pretty much as it sounds, and is a perfect way to unwind in the evenings and before bed. This candle is infused with pure essential oils of lavender & chamomile which soothe your senses, increase your inner peace & help you feel calm. The candles from This Works are hugely underated, they burn beautifully, are very aromatic and use natural wax and strong essential oils. I am also a big fan of their Neroli & Sweet Orange candle which I have bought like 4 times now!
NOURISH & REPLENISH
If you are feeling under the weather then food can play a huge part in bringing back your balance and happy thoughts. Ensure you are getting the correct amount of vitamins, minerals and omegas
in your general diet and if you aren’t….get involved with the
supplements. It can help SO much with how you feel, how you look and how
your body & mind functions. COMFORT FOOD : YAS.
If you feel like going to buy your favourite bar(s) of chocolate…then
just go treat yo’ fine self. Chocolate solves problems. I spent most of
yesterday baking a cake because (A) I love cooking and it re-focuses my
mind off any problems and (B) I like all the chocolate.
DLux3000 Vitamin D Oral Spray is an easy way to boost your immune system and get this essential vitamin into you blood stream. It’s been a while since I have used a spray formula but I find it really easy and effective to use and it’s just a bit more fun than popping a pill… and the absorption is better. ,You simply spray this under your tongue x 1 a day and job done.
BLOCK NEGATIVITY
Getting upset or stressed about something or someone in particular, try and ignore it, block it out, and question what is important to you and your priorities. I think the majority of this can stem from being online too much and social networks, so go back to step 1 ; Switch it off! If the negativity is coming from elsewhere, let’s say a particular person/ family member then allow yourself distance and space. Focus your energy on something positive no matter how small so you can clear your head of negative feelings, even if for a little while.
So if you have been feeling a little overwhelmed or stressed with all the actions going on this week then try one, a few or all of these in some combination and I can assure you it WILL make you feel a little better, if not a lot.
How do you take time out / de-stress and create a peaceful place for yourself?