Tips and Tricks to De-Stress and Relax

Today I’m writing about something a little more on the personal side and branching out more into the lifestyle side of my blog; today I will be talking about the perils of anxiety and ways to de-stress and relax.

Going from a high stress high school situation to a high stress college meant that I always had to be “on” and always had a long list of things to do with not a lot of time. I’m a very perfectionistic person and I am known to put more pressure on myself than anyone else puts on me, thus creating anxiety and even more stress. Over the years I have learned that the most important thing is to take time for yourself! Whether this means twenty minutes alone time while you’re eating breakfast or writing in a journal before bed, to just listening to music and jamming out as you walk to class. For me, this summer has played a very important part in my road to healing and exploration of doing fun and relaxing things that have nothing to do with school for once!

Here is a list of the things that I do to de-stress:

1.

Exercise

As Elle Woods once said, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they just don’t.” This is probably one of my most quoted movie lines (and keep in mind I quote movies in every day conversation like it’s my job) and so I’ve finally taken its advice! When I was in high school I had a routine where I would go to the gym everyday school for about 45 minutes. While sometimes it felt like a waste of time because I could have been getting a head start in my homework in reality it boosted my energy so that I would got my work done faster when I worked out before hand. It also made me happy! Fast forward to college where I considered working out just walking to class and up my dorms stairs. So this summer I knew that had to be remedied and I have taken up Pilates. I have made a routine were I’ll take my yoga mat into my room and go through about two or three of Blogilates YouTube videos. I would definitely recommend them to a friend!

2.

Read for fun

Lately reading had become more of a chore for school rather than a fun activity so this summer I’ve looked back at my bookshelf and started re-reading some of my favorite books. I love doing this because since I already know the story line I don’t have to focus so hard on the details and an just relax as I read and make the characters come to life in my imaginations.

Some of my favorite books to read are, of course, all the Harry Potter books series by JK Rowling, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, and basically any book written by Ally Carter (although I do have a soft spot for I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have To Kill You).

3.

Yoga Stretches

I used to detest doing yoga because I never felt like it relaxed me but rather made me antsy, however this summer that changed. I’ve made it a practice to do about a twenty-minute routine of yoga stretches in the morning right after I wake up to get my day started.

Some of my favorite movies include the child’s pose, down ward facing dog, and the happy baby pose.

4.

Pinterest

Now this may seem weird, go on the internet to relax when usually the computer awakens your senses. However, I have found that going on Pinterest actually helps me relax quite a bit. I love to look at pictures of things that I love! Usually I’ll search either pretty flowers, inspiring quotes, the beach, really anything happy that just puts me in a good mood.

5.

Write, draw, and doodle you’re heart out

I’m a big fan of doodling and drawing. More often than not I’ll just pick up a mechanical pencil and some plain white copy paper and start to draw one thing that inspires me. I love to focus on detail, so usually my drawings are of roses and rose pedals or architectural details of my favorite buildings! Recently I discovered that in front of the New York Public Library’s biggest branch, the Stephan A. Schwarzman Building on 5^th Avenue and 42^nd street right by Bryant Park there is a Bryant Park Art Cart! Right outside the library there is a cluster of tables and chairs set up with different kinds of art supplies and an abundance of paper. Anyone can walk right up and sit down and star drawing. As an advocator for the arts I love this idea and hope everyone in the city takes advantage of it! The other day I was walking by in-between appointments and sat and drew the details of the library building for about half an hour. Being outside and drawing is very relaxing for me and really made me feel more at ease the rest of the day because I had done something that I loved!

The same goes for writing, I’ve learned to always keep a little journal in my purse just incase I want to write something down. When was younger I always wanted to keep a diary and be the kind of person that diligently write down the contents of their day every night but I was never good and it and got bored to quickly. Thus, but keeping a journal with you there is no pressure and you have the freedom to jot down thoughts wherever they come to mind. I have found that just writing things out can reduce anxiety because it then feels like you have control over the situation.

6. 

Have a Dance Party

I have recently re-read Sarah Dessen’s novel Along for the Ride and was reminded of the fact that some of the characters in the book who all work together have a nightly 9 o’clock dance party! I thought this was a great idea to bring back! Having a little dance party, even if it is by yourself in your room, can be a great way to de-stress and get your energy up. Pick a song, put it on loud and just jump around, jam out, and sing your heart out for a few minutes! If I were in charge I would make this a mandatory part of everyone’s day :)

Let me know which one of these relaxation tricks worked for you and don’t forget to subscribe, I’d really appreciate it!

~ Monique ~

My Italy Adventure: Part I

Taking a trip down memory lane in honor of Throw back Thursday today! Spent a good couple of hours today looking back at all my pictures from when I studied abroad in Rome, Italy two years ago! Wow how time flies!

The thing I love about traveling is that I feel as if I am living my life to the fullest when I am exploring a new city! When your traveling every day counts, every minute you spend wandering new corners of the city and being out and about is a memory in the making and paints a story to tell later. It’s tiring, but exciting; a huge contrast to my recent days where I’ve slept late and spent my days on the computer and not leaving the house.

So let’s start at the beginning. Although I went to Italy with a group it was my first time traveling abroad by myself (without my parents that is)—a big step for a homebody like me. Since I was going to another country where I didn’t speak the language we always travelled in groups. When we first arrived I would never have imagined being able to navigate the city by myself. However, a month later on our last days in Rome I had two days all to myself. And guess what, they turned out to be my favorite days of the whole trip! I finally had the chance to explore the beautiful city and do just what I wanted, not what other people in the group wanted to see! In doing what I wanted I started to find myself, going through the old part of Rome with the cobble stone streets, seeing grand architecture, museums, and of course seeing some of the ruins. So here's my message to you: don't be afraid of trying something new! More often than not it will be the best things that's ever happened to you :)

My favorite parts of the days included going to Piazza Navona! The Piazza is a huge open area, lined by cafes and filled with fountains and street art vendors. It also happened to be right near Grom, a gelato store :) I may have had gelato twice that day, once being for breakfast hehe. Well, when in Rome right?! I sat there for a good couple of hours watching the people go by and reading in the sun.

From Piazza Navona I walked to the Trevi Fountain and made a wish while throwing a coin in the water (à la The Lizzie McGuire Movie obviously ;)). Although I had seen pictures of the Trevi fountain nothing really prepared me for seeing it in person. The sculpture! The clear blue water! It is truly a masterpiece; and a crowded place to be, so I didn’t stick around too long. But I didn’t leave without getting gelato #2 of the day and eating it while I watched the fountain!

Next I walked over to the Spanish Steps located in Piazza di Spagna. One of my favorite Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck movies is Roman Holiday and since I felt as if I was having my own little Roman Holiday seeing the Spanish Steps was a must since it is one of the places Audrey’s character goes first in the film! While walking up the steps felt as if I could have been walking up stairs anywhere it was the view from the top that really got me. The whole city right there! I don’t know how long I stood there admiring the view…and taking pictures!

The next day I woke up early and headed over the open-air market in Piazza Campo de’Fiori. There I found an abundance of fresh fruit & veggies, dried fruit, homemade pasta, fresh orange juice, and much, much more. Everywhere you look you see color, and the best part is it's all natural.

After all that shopping I was hungry, so what could cure that, gelato of course! The other day I had passed by a huge gelato place and decided to head back to try it. Turns out I had found on of the most famous gelato stores in Rome! Della Palma Gelato di Roma (located at Via della Maddalena, 19-23, Roma, Italy—incase you wanted to go) has 150 flavors and more! Walking in all you see are cases and cases of gelato spanning the walls and lines of people just waiting to try a new flavor! I ended up treating myself and getting three scoops—chocolate, hazelnut, and strawberry—double yum!

And that’s all I did for two days! Simple and sweet, but perfect.

Over the course of the month as a class we visited so many other things in the city and had weekend trips to Venice, Florence, and Pompeii, which I’ll write about in another post. All of them were special in their own way, although visiting Florence has a special place in my heart!

While in Rome here were a couple of my other favorite spots:

The Victor Emmanuel II Monument (aka the Altare della Patria) located in Piazza Venezia

The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill located at Via di San Gregorio, 00193 Roma, Italy.

Here I specifically remember I could feel the history of the spot where we stood, and all the people who stood there before me.

The Vatican

I think it goes without saying that if you are going to visit Rome you are going to visit the Vatican. I was lucky enough to be able to tour the Vatican museum with my class and I think I took over one hundred pictures there alone. The ceilings and walls are adorned with paintings that you can’t pass up the opportunity to see. My favorite thing about the Vatican museum was the attention to detail on every little corner of everything you laid eyes on from the door handles to the windows to the artwork itself.

St. Peter’s Basilica (located at Piaza San Pietro, Vatican city) and the Dome

The Colosseum

Have any of you been to Rome before? Do you have a favorite place to travel? Let me know!

~ Monique ~