Study after study of psychological research show that stress levels among Americans are increasing year after year. What’s worse than stress itself? Not knowing how to manage it or where to even start. Poor eating habits.. headaches.. irritability.. insomnia, all common symptoms of stress that result in negative health effects. Whether it’s a common occurrence or not for you, we all find ourselves stressed and anxious at one point or another. It’s totally normal and probably way more common than you may think. There are tons of ways to promote relaxation that take zero effort other than your time. In addition to everything listed below, retail therapy, yoga and long walks, are all things I like to incorporate into my schedule to help me calm down & just be.
Panasonic Facial Steamer .:. •• I love to set aside about 20 minutes three times a week to give myself a full spa-quality facial at home. I start by cleansing, exfoliating and then spend the recommended 5-6 minutes or so using this steamer followed by a face mask. My face feels SO hydrated, smooth & alive afterwards; it’s worth every penny. The steam starts within seconds of turning it on, it covers a wide area and it’s compact enough that you don’t have to schlep around a huge device. This is great for creating an at-home spa, treating your skin, helping with sinus & allergy problems and just helping you relax and unwind overall. Highly recommend! // »» http://www.panasonic.com
Organic Aromas Raindrop Nebulizing Diffuser .:. •• I cannot get enough of this diffuser. I have owned several others over the last few years and this one hands down the best & most effective one I’ve seen anywhere! A little fun fact: scent is the only one of the 5 senses that stimulates the emotional part of the brain. Generally speaking, essential oils can have profound effects on the mind, body, & spirit. This diffuser packs a powerful punch and uses zero heat or water and provides the most concentrated scent and therapeutic properties of any essential oil used. It requires the tiniest amount of oil to saturate the air; I use about 15 drops per use and let it run the full 120 minutes before it automatically shuts off, and it fills almost my entire house (1100 sq. ft). Its super quiet, esthetically pleasing and the lights offer an additional calming effect. I can’t recommend this enough! // »» http://www.organicaromas.com
Zaq Essential Oils .:. •• What good is it to have a diffuser if you don’t have a collection of high quality pure essential oils to go with it? As you can see, I’ve already mentioned the powerful benefits of essential oils and how effective they are. With our market saturated in chemical-based candles, air fresheners and room sprays, Zaq created a line of essential oils that are all-natural and perfect for de-stressing, relaxing and transforming your space into a tranquil oasis. They offer both pure essential oils in addition to various blends, my favorites are; Lavender (I use this daily!), and Balance Blend which is a combination of ylang ylang, lavender, bergamot and juniper berry. It’s both balancing & uplifting. // »» http://www.zaq.com
LifeMats PRO Amethyst Crystal Heating Pad .:. •• This isn’t like your typical heating pad, it generates Far InfraRed heat, for ultimate relaxation and pain relief and Amethyst to promote healing and emit negative ions to help reduce stress. “Ionization of the body alkalizes and purifies the blood, charges the immune system, and supplies antioxidants that neutralize free radicals.” FIR heat is nature’s most healing heat; it can penetrate up to 7 inches into the body. Amethyst is known to support deep meditation and emotional balance. Just a FEW benefits of this mat: reduce stress & fatigue, relax muscles, stimulate detoxification, improve blood circulation, improves joint mobility and promotes better sleep. The list is way longer and the benefits are simply amazing. I’ll admit – I was skeptical on whether or not this would actually work and live up to its bold claims. But as someone with years of on-going anxiety, I was open to trying it. I use this several times a week and love that it forces me to take the time to lay down, relax and just rest. You can adjust the heat setting depending on preference and if you’re anything like me you’ll turn it up really hot and sweat it out and give your body a much needed detox. It feels SO amazing after and is an absolute must for me when my anxiety is at an all time high. Not pushing you to break your budget, not being paid to promote, just really impressed with this & all of the benefits it offers. It comes with a bag to fold it away and take along with you if you travel often. This mat is a bit of an investment, but one that is totally worth it! // »» http://www.lifematspro.com
ReFa Carat Body Massager .:. •• Don’t let the odd shape fool you. This [no batteries required] device is small but mighty. It’s great for face & body massages. The uniquely shaped rollers are designed to stimulate the skin and increase blood flow, much like a professional massage you’d get at a fancy spa. When used on the face, this helps tone & tighten skin, and it’s also very easy to maneuver and control whether you’re looking for a light or intense body massage. This device uses micro currency which is amazing for maintaining beautiful, youthful skin. So, whether you have achy muscles or are attempting to defy any signs of aging, this is for you. // »» http://www.refausa.com
Brentwood Home Crystal Cove Meditation Pillow .:. •• Fitting in just a few minutes a day to practice meditation, deep breathing & yoga can definitely help reduce stress in addition to boosting your mood & energy level. I know it sounds so much easier to just sit on the couch and zone out in front of the T.V. (I am guilty of this!) at the end of a really long day, but this doesn’t actually help reduce the effects of stress. It’s really important to counteract a stress-filled day with learning how to effectively relax. The goal is to both physically & mentally relax while staying fully alert. Meditation is so easy to learn, can be practiced pretty much anywhere and gives you a really effective way to control your stress levels. Grab your comfy meditation pillow, turn on white noise or some calming music (YouTube has a ton of free stuff), get the essential oils going, and just be. // »» http://www.brentwoodhome.com
HoMedics Sleep Therapy Machine .:. •• One of the best ways to remain stress-free is to get a restful night’s sleep. This sound machine is the perfect solution if you have trouble falling asleep & staying asleep. White noise is a consistent sound that comes out evenly in all hearable frequencies, it’s meant to block out any inconsistent sudden changes in noise and is especially beneficial to light sleepers. This machine includes 8 soothing water & nature sounds. My #1 favorite is Ocean, what is more relaxing than laying on the beach hearing the soothing sound of waves?! // »» http://www.homedics.com
Kneipp Lavender Collection .:. •• Kneipp sells some of the highest quality herbal bath oils, bath salts and body oils that I’ve ever used! The products pictured above are staples in my nightly bath & skincare routine. Every product is really concentrated and really gives me a luxury spa vibe. I can’t speak highly enough about the benefits of lavender, not only does it help calm nervousness and provide mental clarity it also improves sleep quality. I definitely suggest checking out all of their herbal collections, you’ll thank me later! // »» http://www.kneipp.com/us_en/products/
Erbaviva Breathe Body Oil & Bath Salts .:. •• I looooove creating my own custom body scrub by using ¼ cup of this body oil + ¼ cup of the bath salts. The fresh scents of spruce, eucalyptus, cedar, thyme and tea tree organic essential oils are so relaxing and turn any ordinary bath/shower into a true spa experience. The bath salts deeply clean skin while the oil leaves your skin exceptionally hydrated and well-nourished. // »» http://www.erbaviva.com
EuroSpa Shower Mists .:. •• This is a sure fire way to get your bathroom smelling like an upscale spa. Only 3-5 sprays of this bold, earthy scent will infuse the entire room with the strong, powerful calming properties of eucalyptus. It comes in five different scents; my favorites are Lavender (you probably already knew that though!) and Citrus. It’s crisp & clean and gives me something to look forward to every single morning. // »» http://www.eurospaaromatics.com
Aromatherapy Associates Bath Oils .:. •• I’ve mentioned a thousand times that my favorite way to relax and unwind is to take a hot bath and let any & all stress slowly fade away. I love bath bombs, salts, rich soapy bubbles but what I reach for most when I need more of a “pick me up” are these bath oils. I love every single one I’ve tried from Aromatherapy Associates, but my favorite is light relax. It’s infused with ylang ylang, petitgrain and lavender to relax and soothe your body and your mind. The oil is so rich it leaves your skin soft and moisturized and the scent lingers and benefits you even after you’re out of the bath. // »» http://www.aromatherapyassociates.com
21 drops 21st Century Survival Kit .:. •• This kit was created to support your wellbeing in-spite of the daily face-paced demands we can’t seem to escape in today’s day and age. De-Stress is a powerful blend of frankincense, German chamomile flower oil, lavender and ylang ylang to steady nerves and of course reduce stress. Uplift is infused with German chamomile flower oil, helichyrsum flower oil, rose and lavender to lift the spirit and relieve depression. Lastly, Sleep combines sandalwood, vetiver, ylang ylang and palmarosa grass oil to sedate, soothe and quiet the mind. All blends are 100% natural and are the perfect size take along anywhere you go. // »» http://www.21drops.com
Boiron Ignatia Amara .:. •• Ignatia is a homeopathic remedy used to help ease anxiety. I am by no means an expert in the health/supplement area so I won’t get too in depth on the background and history of this but rather just share my experience. I have found this useful to help ease anxiety at work, in public when you don’t have the time or the space to take a minute to relax, if you get anxious before traveling… it just helps take the edge off. Is it a miracle pill that will rid you of anxiety forever? Of course not, but it certainly may help. Of course, I would definitely recommend discussing taking this with your doctor if you should have any questions, concerns or to see if this is a good option for you. // »» http://www.boirunusa.com
Hum Nutrition Big Chill .:. •• I’ve used Hum supplements before so was excited to see they created one for anxiety. It’s a plant based formula containing the rhodiola rosea herb extract which works to stabilize stress levels and increase productivity. It contains no parabens, sulfates, phthalates, no nasty artificial ingredients, is gluten-free and non-GMO. So, I’ve taken this randomly over the last month or so, I didn’t see a huge difference within the first few uses, but with more consistency I’ve noticed it helps improve my focus and keep me more level headed and calm. I am not against prescription medications for anxiety at all, but if you can get away with taking a lighter, less potentially harmful supplement, it’s totally worth a shot. // »» http://www.humnutrition.com
Kava Kava Candy .:. •• If you get anxious at work, these are your new best friend. WOW, I am beyond impressed at how well these work! They are herbal infused candy made with premium kava extract powder and offer instant stress relief. I keep a pack in my desk at work and take one anytime I start to feel stress creeping up or beforehand on days I know will be hectic. They don’t impact your thinking, don’t cause drowsiness, nothing of that sort, just provide an instant calm and are convenient enough to take along anywhere. They’re also a great option for anyone looking to avoid the pharmaceutical route. // »» http://www.kavakavacandy.com
L’Occitane Aromachologie Pillow Mist .:. •• Somehow I managed to go through an entire bottle of this mist within like a month or so. I spray this EVERYWHERE, my pillow, my bed, my kids beds, my sofa, chairs, rugs, shower curtain, basically anywhere and everywhere in my house & even in my car. It’s a 100% natural scent of lavender bergamot, mandarin and sweet orange essential oils. It’s addicting and totally affordable and encourages a calm, stress free environment. // »» http://www.loccitane.com
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FYI ** As always, my reviews are not paid and are based on my own opinion, personal use and results.
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