Tag Archive for stress relief

5 Ways to Have A Great Monday!

Good morning friends! Another Monday is upon us. I have mixed feelings about  Mondays. I love the fresh feel of a Monday. The chance to start fresh and put last week in the past. At the same time, it can be dreadful. So many things to do, having to get up for work, the thought of getting through a Monday only to have 4 more days to get through as well. I love my jobs, don’t get me wrong, but I love to go on adventures, relax, and do what I feel like at the moment, too!

After making a commitment to myself that I’d never hate my Mondays, I decided to come up with the 5 things that help me have the best Monday possible. Here goes!

1. Coffee.

photo(12)

I know this is an everyday thing, but a good cup of coffee can make all the difference in the world. If you can, ditch your regular Starbucks and get some GOOD coffee. If you love Starbucks, fine, but I’ve found that there are FAR better places to get a reallllllly good cup of coffee. Groundworks coffee is my favorite….see if any of your local coffee shops offer it!

2. Workout.

Deadlift set up

Like many of you, Mondays are always busy for me. I do know that if I make a point to get up just a bit early and even do a 20 minute workout, I’ll feel better. I feel more alert for the day, it’s easier to get through meetings, and I start the day knowing that I’ve already accomplished something. If you can’t get it in before work, use it as an after-work stress reliever. It is an instant boost of serotonin, which regulates your mood and will help make you feel happy.

3. Take a Walk.

Another gorgeous hiking view.

After meetings and phone calls, take a 10 minute break to just walk. Don’t bring your phone (unless you have to), and just tune out. Take deep breaths, take notice of your surroundings, imagine you’re in a dream vacation spot, and reflect on all the good things you have in life. It sounds so simple, but can really help you to let go of some stress and breathe in greatness. (Look at me sounding all yogi like.)

4. Plan yourself a surprise.

scratcherThis is probably my favorite of them all. On Mondays, I buy two scratchers from 7-11 and tuck them away in my desk drawer for later in the afternoon. Having something to look forward to throughout the day is so much fun! Maybe I’m just a total dork, but it definitely helps me get through the day to know that something special is waiting for me in my desk. Choose whatever gets you a little bit excited. Whether it’s a piece of chocolate, flowers, or your favorite drink, find something that you just can’t wait to have!

5. Rest.

photo(4)Getting a good night’s sleep on Sunday night can make all the difference in the world. Try to wind down a little extra early to ensure you have the energy you’ll need to push through your day.

I hope these tips help make your Monday the BOMB!

Do you have other tips for Mondays that help you get through? Leave them in the comments below!

The Woods Have Palm Trees

Yesterday I was feeling rather stressed out and overwhelmed. Being in a gym around a bunch of equipment and people was the exact opposite of what I needed, so I headed out to Temescal Canyon. Temescal Canyon is part of the Santa Monica Mountains and has several hikes to offer. The Santa Monica’s literally have miles and miles of trails, and Temescal has at least 5 or 6 good ones to choose from. Basically there is a main entrance, and as you hike on there are several forks in the road to choose from. It seemed fitting for my mood.

I did a mix of hiking and trail running and just let me feet go where they wanted to go. I took a break at the top to admire the gorgeous day I was experiencing. Southern California definitely has it’s perks.

TC 5

As beautiful as this picture is, it doesn’t do an ounce of justice. Yes, I measure justice in ounces.

I hiked back down the mountain and decided I wasn’t done with nature just yet. I sat and listened to the running water and trees blowing for a bit. This was my view…

TC 6

 

Eventually I ventured off further and discovered a tree that happened to be perfect for climbing. So I called on  my inner 5 year old and did just that. Probably the best thing I’ve done since I’ve lived in LA.

 

 

 

tree climb 1

 

I’ll let the pictures speak for the rest of this. But needless to say, nature walks/runs/hikes are by far the best thing ever.

tree stump 2

bridge

And just in case you forgot I was in LA, yes, that’s a palm tree in the woods…..

PALM TREE