Feeling on Edge? Treat Yourself to a Break With These Ideas

With so much going on in the world right now—as well as in your own life—it’s entirely natural to feel stressed out. After all, life as we know it has been flipped on its head, so it makes sense that many of us are finding it challenging to adjust.

It can be tempting to keep chugging on, especially when you have so many things on your plate. However, it’s vital to both your mental and physical health to give yourself a proper break every so often.

Taking the time to do so will not only help you to feel calmer and happier, but it will give you the mental boost you need to face life’s challenges.

We’ve outlined 3 easy ideas you can try at home to treat yourself to a well-deserved break and destress.

1. Treat Yourself to a Gourmet Experience

If you’re a foodie, there will be few things that speak to your heart like delicious food does. Good food has the power to magically make your worries melt away, if only for a few minutes or hours. The thing is, heading out for a gourmet meal isn’t always an option. Not only can it be cost-prohibitive, but it can also be hard to schedule the time (or a babysitter!) to make it happen.

Fortunately, you don’t need to miss out on this tasty way to treat yourself just because you can’t leave the house! You can enjoy a gourmet experience right from the comfort of your home. Whether you get takeout from your favorite haunt or cook up a storm yourself is up to you. If you decide to go the home chef route, you can try your hand at making a high-end feast or opt for a simple recipe instead.

Just make sure not to forget about dessert! If you don’t want to deal with the stress of making one by yourself (after all, the whole point is to destress!), why not get it delivered? For example, you can get a gourmet chocolate and fruit arrangement delivered straight to your door.

Once you try a bite for yourself you’ll see that chocolate bouquets and chocolate-dipped fruit platters are the perfect dessert to share with your loved ones. Or, if you’re flying solo, you could always get one all for yourself… we won’t judge!

2. Relax With a Calming Massage

If there’s one word that’s synonymous with destressing, it’s definitely “massages.” It’s a shame, then, that many of us only have the chance to go for a massage session once in a blue moon.

But what’s stopping you from getting more frequent massages? After all, it’s entirely possible to have them on the regular if you buy your own massage oil. Once you have your very own bottle of massage oil, you can even have daily massages and foot soaks.

The only thing is that hunting down a high-quality massage oil can be a bit tricky. There are all kinds of blends, aromas, potencies, and so on to choose from, and not all are worth buying.

To save yourself the trouble of scouring through thousands of options, refer to a massage oil buying guide, such as this CBD massage oil buying guide. These types of expert guides review massage oil options for you, so you can spend less time searching and more time relaxing!

3. Learn to Meditate

There’s an overwhelming body of research that highlights that meditation is one of the most powerful and effective ways to destress. For example, research has shown that it helps people to better cope with their stress, anxiety, and depression, among other benefits.

The beauty of meditation is that you can do it anywhere, any time, without costing you a single penny. And contrary to popular belief, anyone can do it too. “If you’re looking for a proven way to destress even in a matter of minutes, meditation is it,” says Angela Stringfellow from Family Enthusiast.

“Be sure to keep in mind that it does take a bit of practice to get used to, so if you don’t quite get the hang of it at first, make sure to keep at it.”

If you want to learn more about meditation before trying it out for yourself, Mayo Clinic's guide will help to get you acquainted with the practice.

Keep in mind that many beginners find it easier to receive some guidance rather than go about it alone, so it may be best to start out with guided meditation. You can either use an app, such as Headspace and Calm, or watch guided meditation videos on YouTube.

Are there any activities you do to help you destress? Let me know in the comments below!