Ok, I don’t know about the rest of you, but this housewife has been feeling, and looking, less-than-fabulous these days. I chalk it up to stress and anxiety, and it feels like someone has literally flipped my switch into extra high gear. At this speed, I’m not sure I can make it through the impending holiday season, unless I recharge my batteries, pronto! I know I’m not alone ladies- just about every woman I talk to is feeling incredibly overwhelmed. So, just for you, I’ve created a list of simple ways to relax, recharge, renew…so you don’t lose your freakin’ mind.
Tips to Cleanse Your Skin, Mind and Soul
1) Unclog your pores: Don’t even get me started on how unbelieveably unfair it is that a completely grown woman, has to deal with blemishes AND wrinkles too. Nontheless, if you’re like me, and wear your stress smack dab in the middle of your face, it may be time to schedule that long over-due appointment at the day spa. A simple, inexpensive treatment may be all it takes to clear you out, physically and mentally, and you’ll be surprised at how big the return on your one-hour “investment in yourself” can be!
L.A. residents can snag 55% off a SkinMedica Vitalize Peel
at Glendale Laser Group through lifebooker.com (regularly $175, now just $79). Advocates of the treatment say, it takes 10 years off! The chemicals literally peel away layers of dead skin, revealing the fresh, glowing fabulous you, that we just know is buried under there somewhere. But, if the idea of peeling flesh isn’t your thing, or if you can’t seem to locate a chic bee-keepers hat, à la Samantha from Sex and the City, don’t you worry your pretty little head, because there’s another option! Many spas offer the oh-so-fabulous Diamond Facial. Now, we know diamonds are a girl’s best friend. By definition (according to wikipedia), a best friend is an ESPECIALLY close and TRUSTED friend. So, I think it’s safe to say, the diamond facial is exactly that- an ESPECIALLY luxurious friend, you can TRUST to deliver amazing results.
2) Put the kettle on: Traditional Medicinals Organic Chamomile with lavendar is definitely my cup of tea (pun intended). After all the stress of my busy day, plus the to-do list that never stops growing, I can count on the this soothing tea to relieve my anxiety. It’s like a lullaby for adults- a good night’s rest, no dark circles in the morning, and without a prescription drug addiction! How fabulous is that!
3) Consume some Kale: replacing the lettuce on your sandwich, with some fresh, crisp Kale (see pic of my sandwich today at work), can really go a long way. Kale is best for you when it’s served raw, and it’s loaded with nutrients, anti-oxidants, vitamins A and C, and it’s got plenty of fiber too. It fills you up, protects against cancer and cateracts, and it’s great for your skin. Kale also fights fat, so if you’re so inundated, you have skimp, or skip your daily workout, you don’t have to feel so guilty.
4) Scrub your drowsiness away: wholeliving.com has a fabulously unique morning scrup, that promises to soften-skin while energizing you for the day ahead. For this recipe you actually use the old coffee grounds from a freshly brewed pot. Kinda gross to think about at first, but I figure, nothing gets me up and at ‘em like a morning cup ‘o Joe, so this might actually be promising!!
Tools and Materials:
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup pure turbinado sugar
15 drops peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita)
1/2 cup used coffee grounds from a freshly brewed pot
Wake-Up Scrub How-To:
1. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; using a fork, thoroughly blend. Transfer the scrub to a wide mouthed jar, and store in a cool place until ready to use. The scrub will keep for one to two weeks, longer if refrigerated.
2. While showering, apply handfuls of the coffee scrub to wet skin in circular motions, starting at the feet and working up. The scrub contains oil, so it’s best to do this over a rubber mat to avoid slipping. Pay particular attention to rough spots such as heels, ankles, knees, and elbows.
3. After scrubbing, cleanse skin as usual using a mild natural soap or body wash. Pat skin dry with a fluffy towel, and follow with lotion to seal in the moisture.
Read more at Wholeliving.com: Wake-Up Scrub
5) Meditate: I have been hearing about the benefits of meditation for quite some time. I try to meditate during yoga, but I’m usually too self-conscious about what my butt looks like to the person behind me during downward dog to achieve true inner tranquility. So, I literally copied and pasted a how-to guide from Meditation for Dummies (I’m not even kidding) so we can learn together!
If you’ve never deliberately relaxed your body before, start with the meditation outlined below. It leaves you feeling relaxed, refreshed, and in touch with yourself. Because it takes at least 15 minutes to complete, you probably won’t do it each time you meditate, but it does teach you how to relax your body, part by part. After you’ve practiced this exercise a few times, your body will have a memory of what it’s like to be deeply relaxed. By the way, deep relaxation is a great antidote for insomnia — just practice it in bed and drift off to sleep!
1. Find a comfortable place to lie down. Take off your shoes, loosen your belt and other tight clothing, and stretch out on your back with your arms resting at your sides, legs slightly apart.
2. Sense your body as a whole, including the places where it contacts the surface of the bed or floor.
3. Close your eyes and bring your awareness to your feet. Wiggle your toes, flex your feet, and then let go of all tension as much as you can, allowing your feet to melt into the floor.
4. Shift your awareness to your lower legs, thighs, and hips. Imagine them becoming heavy and relaxed and melting into the floor. If the image of melting doesn’t appeal to you, you might try dissolving or sinking or disappearing.
5. Bring your awareness to your lower abdomen. Imagine all tension draining away, your breath deepening, and your belly opening and softening.
6. Bring your awareness to your upper abdomen, chest, neck, and throat, feeling the areas opening and softening.
7. Bring your awareness to your shoulders, upper arms, lower arms, and hands. Imagine them becoming heavy and relaxed and melting into the floor.
8. Bring your awareness to your head and face. Feel the tension melting away from your face across your head and into the floor.
9. Scan your body from head to toe, searching for any remaining areas of tension or discomfort. If you find any, just imagine them relaxing completely.
10. Experience your body as one field of relaxation, without parts or edges.
11. Continue to rest in this way for five or ten minutes more; then very slowly begin to wiggle your fingers and toes, stretch your arms and legs, open your eyes, and gradually come up to a sitting position.
Check in with yourself and notice how you feel. Do you feel more relaxed? Does your body feel lighter or more expanded? Does the world appear different in any way? Now gently get up and go about your day.
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My wife and I tried switching to kale, but I couldn’t get past the taste. We’ve been eating a lot of spinach. And some sort of vegetable that starts with an A. Not asparagus….