How to Reduce the Stress in your Life

How to Reduce the Stress in your Life

The Stress Problem

A couple years ago, we had some major setbacks in our family, and I got so stressed out that I began losing chunks of my hair. Like, CHUNKS. I had completely bald patches. I was really worried I was going completely lose all of my hair.  The doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with me (and I was only 26 at the time).

During this time, I just kept plugging on with my life, and when I got home from work, or on Saturday afternoons, I would sit in the bathtub and read a book.  When I got out I would lather eucalyptus tea stress relief lotion all over myself.

I would totally lose myself in the book, escaping from the realities of life for a little while.

It wasn’t’ only losing myself in the pages of a novel or learning something new in a nonfiction book that helped me relieve stress, it was also the act of doing something I loved to do as a child.  Going back to our childhood loves is great balm for the soul. 

A Reading Nook

The bathtub is one of my cozy reading “nooks”.  It doesn’t sound like a traditional place to curl up with a book, but it is a comfortable, soothing place, and if I am going to soak for a while, I might as well read!

I also read that taking a bath is reminiscent of being in the womb, so it is great for comfort and stress relief.  If you’re interested in the appeal of baths check out this article from the guardian.  

I didn’t stop losing my hair until our situation we were in was resolved, but it did keep me going and moving forward with life to lose myself in a book every once in a while.

How to reduce stress:

1.    Find a book you’re interested in.  Here are some ideas:

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 

The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult

Chasing Slow by Erin Loechner

Outliers by Malcom Gladwell

2.    Run a warm bath

Add mood lighting, a favorite drink, Spotify, etc

3.    Soak and read for at least 30 minutes (or as long as the water stays warm!)

4.    Towel off and lather a stress-relieving scented lotion. Some of my favorites are:

Eucalyptus tea from the aromatherapy stress relief Bath and Body Works line

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter – especially the Massage Lotion for Stretch marks

Plain ol’ baby oil 

  

Your Turn

We all live stressful lives and have periods of intensely taxing situations.  Next time you’re stressed or worried try these four easy steps and keep yourself moving forward. 

Hannah

Dinner Party and Hospitality

Have you ever been to a fancy dinner party?  One where there is an actual table cloth and china dishes?  And I mean not for an event, but at somebody’s house?

I can’t remember going to someone’s house for a dinner party; we are usually just “coming over for dinner”.  There seems to be a difference.

I am re-reading Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets Learned while Living in Paris by Jennifer L. Scott because I want to be effortlessly stylish and chic like French women.  Of course, since I’m re-reading it being stylish apparently isn’t all that effortless for me, but whatever.  I’ll learn.   

Anyway, in one of the chapters Jennifer describes how in France it is part of the culture to throw dinner parties.  And they are usually quite elaborate. Madame Chic gave one at least once a week! *gasp* Jennifer describes them this way:

“Madame Chic’s [dinner parties] were always elegant affairs-classical music, aperitifs in the salon beforehand, delicious five-course meal to follow, then some after-dinner smoking for the men, digestifs, and more classical music.”

-Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets Learned

while Living in Paris

by Jennifer L. Scott, chapter 15

While I was reading the chapter on entertaining I kept wondering what these French people would do with their kids?  Did they have these fancy dinners with the kids?  Or did they put them to bed and then have everyone over?  (that would never work!)  I don’t know. 

Kids or no kids, I would like to throw an actual dinner party.  However, I’m not in the habit of simply having people over for dinner.  I don’t usually ask people to come to my house for play dates.  I’m not even in the habit of saying I’ll meet you at Starbucks for coffee!  So what makes me think I could just whip up a dinner party no problem?

Also, what is keeping me from just having people over for dinner? (Ok, I do actually know: insecurity about the way my house looks, fear of how the food will taste, thinking the house won’t look clean because…kids.) But will my close friends worry about that?  I can already tell you. No.  No, they will not.

They will appreciate me having them over and they will offer to bring something.  And when they notice the baby spitting up on the floor they will just clean it up without even mentioning it.

I know this because my two best friends invite us over all the time and that’s what happens at their houses. 

If the toys are everywhere, we don’t care.  If there’s dirt on the floor, we don’t care (if we even notice!)  If one of their kids needs help with something, we help them. 

So, when I realized we had no plans for this weekend, I said, what the heck! I’m inviting them over. I’m just going to jump in and do this. And guess what?  They offered to bring something. So far, so good.

I am trying to get the hose clean and have things be nice.  I want my hospitality to be the best that I can make it.  But I am also giving myself grace for when I fall short of my goal.  And if the lasagna burns and the cobbler is terrible, we will just order pizza and have someone run to get ice cream.

And I’m viewing this simple meal as a plan for more simple meals.  And also as a spring board for more elaborate gatherings.  If I want to eventually get to the dinner party status of Madame Chic, then I need to start small and practice.

Here is our menu for the evening:

·      Salad – from Friend #1

·      Roasted veggies – from Friend #2

·      Lasagna – I’m making it from this recipe: https://thestayathomechef.com/amazing-lasagna-recipe/

·      Garlic bread – store bought (win!)

·      Peach cobbler – I’m making it from this recipe: https://www.gonnawantseconds.com/southern-peach-cobbler/

Now you!  Text a friend and have them over for dinner!  Or for coffee.  Or a playdate.  Or popcorn and Netflix.  Whatever, just do it!

Happy entertaining!

Hannah


Here is a link to Lessons from Madame Chic
https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Madame-Chic-Stylish-Secrets/dp/1451699379