Do you have a hard time calming down after a stressful day? Maybe it’s running that tough conversation over and over again, regretting something you said, or struggling to calm your nervous energy after a challenging difficult meeting.
We can get stuck overanalyzing the smallest things and it’s exhausting. Here are some ways to relax your mind and help you manage stress.
1. Play Calming Music
Putting on a calming playlist and thinking about the music is distracting and soothing. The words will distract you while the melody relaxes you. Create a playlist of songs that stand out to you to go back to when another stressful day hits.
2. Draw
The process of drawing can help you process your day. When you’ve finished you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment that can also help you recover from your hard day.
Adding calming colors to your drawing like blues and purples will help you relax as you process.
3. Plug-In A Diffuser
Aromatherapy using essential oils is a great way to calm anxious thoughts and relax. This natural way to relax will help bring you peace of mind. Other essential oils to help you manage stress include Lavender and Orange.
4. Massage Your Hands and Neck
Use 5 drops of Lavender Essential Oil in a Tablespoon of Fractionated Coconut Oil or Olive Oil. Massage your hands and neck with the mixture and notice how your body relaxes. Lavender Essential Oil will calm restlessness while the massage helps relax tension.
5. Take a Bath
Soaking in warm water helps relieve tension that builds up after a hard day. You can also add whole milk, Epsom salts, essential oils, flower petals and more for added benefits. This method of self-care can be as simple or luxurious as you’d like.
6. Get Off Your Phone
Staring at the backlight of your skin makes it tough for your body to relax. When I get on my phone, it’s usually to spend time on social media. When staring at other people’s pictures it’s hard not to play the comparison game, which can make your day even harder and bring out negative self-talk.
Getting off your phone helps your mind relax by removing the bright light that is waking up your brain along with taking a break from the temptation. of negative self-talk.
7. Write It Out
When I was a teacher, one of the tools we used to help correct student’s behavior is “Say it, name it, change it.” While I used it with students, it’s one of my favorite tools to correct my own behavior.
It starts by describing how you are feeling, like “I’m stressed out.” Now that you know what you are actually feeling, it’s easier to name the 'why' behind it. Like, “I’m stressed out because I am so busy at work.” Now that you know why you’re feeling stressed, you can change it. Maybe you need to practice not thinking about work when you’re not at work. Maybe you need to take time off.
Writing out how you are feeling will help you track why you’re feeling that way and help you brainstorm how to fix it. It will also help you document it so you can learn what is causing you emotional distress is recurring and if bigger steps need to be taken, like stepping out of a harmful relationship or changing jobs.
BONUS IDEA: Create Your Own DIY Stress Ball
Stress balls are a perfect for sensory activity. And the essential oils’ aroma smell helps calm and support mental focus. It’s a great tool to have along at work or school. Did I mention this recipe is kid-friendly?
DIY Stress Ball Recipe
Ingredients
Balloon
1 cup Flour Funnel
Empty Water Bottle (or similar container)
5 drops Tangerine Essential Oil
5 drops Fir Needle Essential Oil
3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
Directions
Pour flour into an empty bottle using a funnel.
Add essential oils to bottle and shake well to mix.
Blow the balloon up then allow it to deflate, this helps it stretch to hold the flour mixture. Attach the end of the balloon to the bottle opening. Squeeze the flour mixture into the balloon.
Pinch the end of the balloon and remove from bottle. With the balloon still pinched, gently squeeze out excess air to desired firmness. Tie balloon.
To use, squeeze balloon to help ease stress and increase focus.
What I love about this recipe
I love that this recipe is so easy and so helpful! A stress ball to ease stress + the power of essential oils. I’ll call that a stress buster!
Safety and Disclaimer
Never ingest an essential oil even if it is generally regarded as safe unless under the supervision of a doctor certified in aromatherapy. Please note: This post is a compilation of suggestions made by those that have extensively used essential oils and has not been verified scientifically with clinical tests nor reviewed by medical experts. It is anecdotal information and should be treated as such. For serious medical concerns, please consult your doctor.
How Do You Relax After A Hard Day?
My favorite method of relaxation is using essential oils. Did you know we have a subscription recipe box that makes using essential oils easy? This month our subscribers are relaxing with toxin-free bath recipes.
Each box comes with four full-size essential oils, 6 toxin-free recipes, plus the extras you need to make them. The recipes are created, tested, and used by our certified aromatherapist so you know that they are safe.
Looking for more integrative self-care ideas? Visit Brilliantly You Virtual Wellness Center. When you subscribe the Simply Earth Monthly Essential Oil Box with Brilliantly You, Inc., you will also gain access to our weekly integrative self-care BYOU Q & A calls and be invited to join the BYOU Community where you will gain the encouragement and the support you need to live vibrantly - in alignment with your truest and healthiest self.