As someone who struggles with self-diagnosed anxiety, I am no stranger to stress. Working part-time, taking a full load of classes, and tutoring on the side sometimes leaves me feeling overwhelmed. It is important to understand how anxiety affects you and find ways to relax that suit you. I can physically feel most of my tension fall away as soon as I set foot in my bedroom, my safe haven. I get incredibly homesick (or room-sick) when I leave each morning. If it were up to me, I would forever lie in my bed with my dog curled up against my leg and Gilmore Girls playing on a loop next to me.
One of the first things I do is light my candles. I have four right now that I light every day. Believe it or not, but I used to think candles lasted for years before I met my dear friend, Cassandra. When we lived together, we lit candles every day which got me addicted and made me broke. From that point on, I was a changed, candle-hoarding, woman. My favorites are the Signature Soy ones from Target.
Next, I make some tea. I have a small variety of teas that I choose from. While the water heats up, I take a quick shower. I am somebody who values my sleep above all else, so I don’t usually have the time in the morning to spend showering, so I do it at night to wash away all the day’s struggles and frustrations.
Usually at this point in the evening, I am cool, calm, and collected. With my room smelling warm and fragrant from the candles, and a hot mug of Honey Vanilla Chamomile tea (my current obsession), I sit at my desk and unwind by either catching up on my favorite YouTubers or reading a book.
This has been my relaxation routine, which kind of turned into my nightly routine, but anyway, it has really benefited me and my sanity.
Catastrophe & Pie 