All About Anxiety || Follow Up Post

Last month I wrote a post called "All About Anxiety" (if you haven't read it yet, check it out here: All About Anxiety). The post discusses the importance of letting the little things go. Things like the inevitable mental breakdown that accompanies the daily "choosing an outfit for [insert event here]" routine. Or the headache that comes standard with leaving the house 10 minutes late and getting stuck behind the minivan that's clearly in no rush to get anywhere in the next 15 years. We all stress, but when it comes to the little things, I've learned (the hard way) that it's rarely worth it. Unfortunately (sort of), we're all human, so generally knowing that something is bad for us isn't enough to stop us from doing it. One quick fix that I use when I feel the stress getting to me is to ask myself one simple question: will this matter in 10 years? Nine times out of ten the answer is "no," and with that one little question, I can feel my body relax almost instantly. Xanax who?

Another de-stress ritual that I love is listening to relaxation podcasts. These are great for the days when everything's the worst, or those special moments when you're feeling fabulous and you want to keep the good vibes flowing. The podcasts that I've found work the best are under the category "guided meditation." Usually I just skip the "guided" and let the podcast put me right to sleep, so whether or not meditation itself works, I don't know. What I do know is that these podcasts are doing something very right. They'll put you in a relaxed state of mind, and help you let go of all the stress you carry throughout the day. Below are 3 of my favorite stations, as well as the episodes that I use the most. Some of them are a few years old, but don't let that deter you; they still do the trick!

What are your tricks for relaxing and de-stressing? Share them in the comments section below!  

1. 3-Minute Hypnosis 

• Hypnotic Sleep
• Wash Away Stress, Anxiety, and Worries

2. My Meditation Station

• ZZZZZZ...
• Work Detox

3. Relaxation Meditation Podcast

• Audios for Sleep and Relaxation
• Relax and Recharge