How to Destress and Be Happy

I’m partnering with Aveeno® to share tips on how to destress and find happiness, doing things you love, as part of a sponsored post with Socialstars. Happy skin looks better (that’s not scientific but I’d argue the point). Stress is inevitable. Might as well learn how to turn to the things we love to help us get out of our funk and be happy.

5 Easy Ideas for How to Destress

Happy wife, happy life. We’ve all heard it, but it’s totally true. If you don’t stop and do something for yourself once in a while, you end up running on empty and not being your best self. In this culture of “busy,” it’s cool to let your kids see you stop, and put yourself first. Here are some easy ways to destress and be happy!

Our body reacts to stress in a bunch of different ways. I don’t know about you, but stress eating is something I am no stranger to (as she nervously glances down at her muffin top…). (Related post: How to Feel Better When You Feel Out of Shape)

Stress causes or exacerbates all types of things like headaches (lifelong headache sufferer right here), fatigue and anxiety. It’s not going to go away, but if we are mindful of giving ourselves a break, we are less likely to get into a stress spiral. It’s a thing.

Make Time for Things You Enjoy

I’m a magazine junky. I love to read short articles about all kinds of things, I find tons of inspiration for crafts and recipes and I also like to check out the art direction and photography of each editorial. All I need is about 10 minutes to read an issue.

At first, it was hard for me to stop thinking about all the other things I had to do and allow myself to enjoy the magazine even for just a few minutes at a time. But I tried to make it a habit and it has gotten easier. And now I look forward to it.

Mom guilt is no joke and it manifests itself into stress about doing the things we enjoy. But I know my sanity and health is worth that 10 minutes of enjoyment.

Get Back in Bed

I’m a work at home mom who loves TV. When I have to write a post or really think about something, the TV has to be off. But if I am editing photos, I usually turn on The Today Show or the Hallmark Channel. I never really watch TV during my work day though. Watching TV is one of my favorite ways to deal with stress.

When I’m really needing to step away from the day for a while, I head right to my cozy bed to catch up on my DVR’d shows. Depending on how much the day sucks directly correlates to what I watch. Even a quick 30-minute show, where I can turn off my brain, refreshes me like nothing else. And watching from bed feels extra decadent and restorative.

A Manicure is Perfect for Coping with Stress

I’m pretty low maintenance in the beauty department but once in a while, I like to paint my nails. It helps me feel a little more glamorous. But taking the time out of my day for a manicure can sometimes add stress. Painting your nails at home is a fairly quick thing I can do for myself.

This is totally something I can do and then type away on the computer while my nails dry. I love this because it ensures that I can’t do anything manual labor-like for a few hours until the paint is good and set. Which includes, but is not limited to: dishes, laundry, changing the sheets, cleaning the bathrooms. It’s genius. It lets me get work done and removes any guilt of not keeping up with the household chores.

Make it Sweet

I have a pretty pronounced sweet tooth, so giving myself a candy break makes me feel a little bit like a kid again. I don’t eat until I get a stomach ache (anymore), I finally started following the serving size info from the package. It felt like a grown-up thing to do.

A little bit of my favorite candy makes me happy. It’s ok to think of yourself and not put everyone else first all of the time. It might not take very much time to eat the candy but the fact that you thought about what would make you happy, at the moment, is really what it’s about. Of course, too much candy can backfire and leave you feeling all kinds of gross, but a little is perfect.

Hit the Water

Bath time! A warm water bath is one of the perfect things for how to de stress! In the bath, there is nothing that you can do but relax and think about what you need to think about or ignore the things you don’t want to focus on. Scents play a big part in what relaxes me. Whether it is through scented candles or a body wash, smells are the quickest way for me to be transported to a happy place.

Maybe it was a time when I was really relaxed, or maybe it reminds me of a favorite vacation spot. Smells, like the nourishing coconut from this Aveeno® Active Naturals® Skin Relief Gentle Scent body wash, elicit a response in the body based on an event we associate with it. And I doubt many people have a negative response to this light coconut scent. It’s delightful! Stress also wreaks havoc on our skin. Our body produces a chemical response to stress that makes our skin more sensitive. It can cause breakouts or make recurring conditions (like dry skin) worse. Because our skin is acting out when we are stressed, it’s best to use gentle products, like the Skin Relief body wash, in our skincare routine.

It’s nourishing and leaves our skin soothed without being too harsh. This body wash is proven to be just as gentle as fragrance-free products and features the Active Naturals formula found in so many of the other amazing Aveeno® products. I use this body wash in place of shave gel. It doesn’t dry out my skin and leaves them super smooth.

Find out more about Aveeno® Active Naturals® Skin Relief Gentle Scent body wash here.

While your list of de-stressing activities might look different from mine, the important thing is that you know the value of taking time for yourself. Try to figure out how to destress yourself each day. You’re worth it.

Thanks for supporting the brands, like Aveeno®, who let me encourage you to take better care of yourself and your skin and how to destress!

All images by Dez and Tam Photography