As ‘Spring Fever’ hits, so does spring-cleaning.
And I don’t just mean dusting off the drapes you forgot about all winter or giving clothes away to Goodwill because they don’t fit or you’re “just tired of them.” Spring-cleaning applies to each and every aspect of your life, and while it may not seem that anyone else is struggling with the same personal obstacles that you are, trust me when I tell you that you’re not alone.
We all struggle with stress and frustration. And although we each ultimately need to find our own plan to make things fresh again; taking a little time to yourself everyday to relax can make a world of difference no matter who are or what’s going on. In fact some times the best way to spring clean the stress in your life is to Stop (freaking out), Drop (what you’re doing), and Relax (anyway you like!)
If you take a deep breath, or five, or ten, and take a step back then you may find the root of your worries. Maybe you’re not really upset that you couldn’t find your normal toothpaste at the drug store; the stress may be rooted much deeper than that. You may be stressed about the possibility of a promotion if you really deliver at work. If you take a moment, and take a step back, you will have a clearer picture of what is going on in your life, and what you next step should be.
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You should never feel any shame on dropping everything for a Saturday afternoon, or a weekend, to go on a spa trip by yourself or with a few of your closest friends. Whatever it is that helps you relax, as long as it is a positive outlet, treat yourself when you feel you absolutely need a break.
Sometimes you may want to de-stress by yourself, and other times you need your friends to talk to about what is going on. You may want your significant other with you, to let them know that your snappy mood this week wasn’t about them but that because of stress at work. No matter how you do it, alone or with someone close to you, taking time for yourself to relax is crucial to having a happy and healthy life.
Whether you stay close to home when you need a break, or take a trip, make a list of the things in your life that you are happy and thankful for. Hang up your list in a place in your house where only you see it, and look at it whenever life throws you a curve ball, or just to remind you that you always have a reason to smile.