This post just feels like it’s right to share now… as the holiday season kicks everything into double speed and everyone becomes holiday CRAYzy with travel, social commitments, taking finals, wrapping up work projects, buying those last minute gifts… there’s no end to everything we have to getdone. I am fully guilty of falling into all of the fuss and creating a jam-packed schedule just so that I can fit. it. all. in. Don’t get me wrong, 99% of this season is fun and laughter and spiked cider ;), but there are definitely moments (that I see myself in already) where it all seems like a little much. As Cindy Lou Hoo said, “everybody seems to kerbabbled. Isn’t this just a little… superfluous??”

She has a point, which is why I sat down to write out all of my favorite products, and tips, for reducing anxiety and stress. These could be applied to every season of the year, or life, but I just found them to be especially applicable to the days leading up to Christmas and New Year’s. During this time of the year we’re wrapping everything up (literally) by the end of December and then starting everything anew on January first, both of which can make anyone feel more than a little angst. Hopefully though, sharing my go-to products and things that I personally do to relieve stress and anxiety can help you in some way! Let me know in the comments below. 🙂

FAVORITE PRODUCTS TO RELIEVE STRESS & ANXIETY

ONE: Anxie-T Vitamins || I take two of these every day and have recommended them to countless people. They are natural stress supplements that were recommended to me by my doctor to help manage feelings of anxiety (i.e. heart palpitations, shortness of breath, general feelings of “freaking out”, etc., ha) and I can 100% say that they’ve changed my life and have helped me feel less rushed and uptight and way more calm. I would double check with your doctor and see if they’d be a potential fit for you!

TWO:Olly Restful Sleep Gummies|| Some nights when I have more than a lot on my mind, I take one of these sleep gummies (one does the trick for me!), and they help me fall asleep immediately. They’re a natural vitamin that include melatonin and definitely help relax you and get you ready for sleep.

THREE:Aveda Stress-Fix Composition Oil || I could not recommend Aveda’s Stress-Fix line anymore, which is why the last three items are all from it. I use this Composition Oil before I go to bed and rub it on my temples and wrists. You can massage it into your scalp, neck, back, hands, feet– pretty much all over, to soften your skin and enjoy the stress relieving aroma. You can also put a few drops in a hot bath too!

FOUR:Aveda Stress-Fix Concentrate || I carry this with my in my purse and it’s like a little mini essential oil rollerball on the go. If you get worked up during the day or just want to take a moment to relax, you can whip it out and rub it on your wrists, temples, etc. and breathe in the calming scent. Apply it to your wrists, hold it over your nose, and breathe in…

FIVE:Aveda Stress-Fix Body Lotion || This is such an amazing lotion to use when you hop out of the shower and want to put on a soothing lotion and get in your jammies and have a cozy, relaxing night in. If you really want to immerse yourself in the Stress-Fix scent, then you might as well put it over your whole body. 🙂

FAVORITE THINGS TO DO TO RELIEVE STRESS & ANXIETY

I know that everyone has their own hobbies and go-to activities for relaxing and de-stressing, but I thought I’d share mine to spark potentially even more ideas. After thinking these through and writing them all down, I realized that most of them are things that don’t involve my phone and instead have something to do with being healthy and exercising (what?! shocker here ha), being social and talking things out, or winding down with a sedentary or meditative moment… I am now seeing the patterns here and am getting the picture of what my type of “peace” looks like. 🙂

• Working out while watching reality TV
• Taking an afternoon nap (on the weekends)
• Walking on the beach
• Listening to podcasts while I drive to and from work
• Sitting in a hot tub
• Organizing my room/belongings (i.e. putting away laundry, decluttering things, I also weirdly LOVE sorting socks…)
• Sitting in a sauna (closing my eyes and inhaling deeply in the sauna is as close as I can get to mediating.. this is a work in progress!)
• Having a cocktail and chatting with my girlfriends
• Praying ?

Though this post is so personal to my specific lifestyle and how I manage my own stress, hopefully you can find nuggets in it that may help you or spark an idea that could change your anxiety and stress levels for the better. Take a second to think of any products or activities that could potentially fit into your life and help ease some angst and stress so you have more room for JOY. xx