Top 10: Ways to De-Stress

My life can get a little stressful sometimes. Working from home. Taking care of my 4 little guys. Cleaning. Cooking. Organizing. Scheduling appointments and practices and games. Life can get busy, busy, busy (to say the least!).

I hate to feel stressed. It’s not fun! So I need to make sure I take the time to de-stress myself!

Here are my Top 10 Ways to De-stress:

1. Dancing
I love popping on music and just letting go! I’m not the best dancer in the world, but to my sons I am! Lady Gaga, Pink and Natasha Bedingfield are some of my faves right now. I just love how the music moves me and relaxes me from head-to-toe!

2. Warm Shower
Some people like baths, I like to take showers. They really are the most relaxing thing in the world to me. I love taking my time and letting the hot water relax every muscle! My husband jokes with me that the water is so hot, he doesn’t know how I can stand it! But the hotter, the better!

3. Coffee
There’s nothing like a delicious cup of coffee! I drink my coffee black – no cream, no sugar. It’s as raw as raw can be, and I love it! When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is make a hot pot of coffee, it de-stresses me beautifully!

4. Shopping
Don’t laugh, but it’s true! Whenever I’m feeling stressed, if I happen to be heading into a store, the walking around and perusing the aisles and the racks of clothing truly relaxes me. It makes me feel so much better. I love to lose myself in a shoe display or a beautiful rack of dresses!

5. Beach
I live about 5 miles from the beach. We love to take the boys to the beach and let them toss rocks and shells into the water. The beach is so calming and so relaxing. Listening to the water rippling, the waves crashing… there’s something so relaxing about that to me. Not to mention walking in the sand, I love it!

6. Running/Walking
We have a treadmill in our basement, and there are times I absolutely, positively need the TREADMILL! It’s a place where I can go and just be. I can go as fast or as slow as I want to, it’s just the best place in the world for me.

7. Hair Highlighted
This one falls under 2 categories – 1) Essential 2) Relaxing! I love getting my hair highlighted. Sitting down, reading magazines and vegging out for 2 hours and I LOVE it! Not to mention, when I’m done, I leave with my hair done and looking all blonde!

8. Manicures
I love getting a manicure! To sit and have someone work on my nails is something I love. It’s absolutely relaxing, especially when I have a friend or my mom or my sister come with me. We hang out, we talk, we laugh… it’s wonderful!

9. Snuggling
It’s as simple as that. There’s nothing like snuggling on the couch with my little men. I love it. We’ll pop in a movie, make some popcorn and just be together. It’s so relaxing to be with my family and know that there’s nothing else to do but be together. It’s beyond relaxing for me!

10. Housewives Series
Oh, yes. I’m an addict. On Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights my life stops for the Housewives Series. NYC, DC, Atlanta, Orange County, NJ, Miami and Beverly Hills… I watch them all and I love them all. It’s great de-stressing to me because it’s entertainment. I’m completely in my relaxation zone, it’s 10PM at night and I just love to sit and watch away!

What are your favorite ways to lower your stress level? Suggestions are welcome!