Stress Relief–Tips and Tricks

I’m still looking for some tools and ideas to help me not turn to food when I’m stressed, tired, or auditioning for the lead role of Miss Crabby Pants. What are some non related food rewards/activities/techniques that you use as incentives to stay on your clean foods diet?

Some ideas that I have or have tried are:

• Taking a bath (I don’t have a bathtub though and I WILL NOT go use the bathtub in the kids’ bathroom – but when I did have my own tub, this was one of my treats.)
• Make some tea and read a good book
• Download some new tunes/podcasts
• Do some light yoga/stretching while listening to some calming music, better yet, lie down on a foam roller or some tennis balls under tight spots on your back/neck.
• Go for a walk/run with some upbeat music
• Look up funny animal videos on Youtube/Pinterest (I swear by this!)

 

If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, then you’ve probably seen this picture.  It’s blueberry green tea with some vanilla flavored stevia.  SO DELICIOUS!  Definitely doesn’t taste like a milkshake or Oreos, but that stuff isn’t good for you anyway.  I’ve been trying to trick myself with this stuff and I think you should try it too.

I love that the tags on the tea bags have little uplifting sayings or quotes on them.  Again, not quite the same as the quotes inside a Dove chocolate square, but it’s progress, right?  Oooh but the dark chocolate Dove squares would be somewhat ok as long as you didn’t eat the whole bag.

The Yogi brand also makes a stress relief tea that I’m still trying to get myself to like.  I mean, I DO like it but it needs to grow on me a little more.  It tastes a little chocolate-y and a little licorice-y (which I don’t exactly care for anise, or the black licorice taste.)…HOWEVER, there is no caffeine in the tea and I swear that it helps me fall asleep quickly.  So don’t take it during your work day unless you’re ok with your face on your desk in a puddle of drool.

So what do you do when you find yourself about to crack?