How to De-Stress: My Top 50 Tips!

This week for my post about health, wellness and fitness, I decided to do a little something different. I've been thinking a lot about stress and what I do on a daily basis to make my life and the lives of those around me better. I decided to come up with a list of the top fifty things I do to deal with stress in my life. Many of them are natural remedies to stress and anxiety. Admittedly, it has been a rough week for that, which is a big reason I wanted to write this post. There is stress in my life that just isn't going to go away despite my positive actions to the contrary, so I need to focus on how to better deal with the stress and the negative consequences that it brings to my life. 

On the heels of a ridiculously tough work week, I'm looking forward to some extremely rare time off with friends and family. I'm focusing the strength I do have left on improving my daily overall well-being and thinking about how to improve the lives of those around me. Some days are tougher than others and tomorrow is always a new day. I hope this list helps someone out there going through a hard time or just looking for some additional ideas on how to brighten up their day and deal with stress better. Keep reading if you can since #50 is something I'm especially excited about.  So without further ado, here are my top 50 tips to de-stress your day! 

1. Take deep breaths
2. Drink a cool glass of water
3. Stretch
4. Go for a walk
5. Call a friend
6. Write a snail mail letter or card to someone 
7. Watch the sun go down
8. Listen to music
9. Get a massage
10. Take a bath with oils, especially lavender or epson salts
11. Put an ice pack at the base of your neck for 10-15 minutes, close your eyes and relax
12. Go to a farmer's market
13. Make a list of wants and needs, take care of 1 need and 1 want
14. Create a budget 
15. Go for a drive with the windows open and your hair down
16. Wear a bright item of clothing
17. Put on red lipstick
18. Wear no makeup and let your smile be your "makeup" for that day
19. Paint your nails
20. Call your parents and tell them your troubles, take a step back into child role 
21. Read a book or magazine
22. Tell someone you love them 
23. Finger paint 
24. Put a bow in your hair. A big bright obnoxious bow.
25. Write down your top 5 stresses in your life on that day, pick one and do something about it, anything!
26. Clean out your freezer. (Seriously, there's something therapeutic about this!)
27. Hit or kick something (like a punching bag, not person or other's property) 
28. Yell or scream, especially at the top of a mountain or bluff
29. Do one thing on your bucket list
30. Switch phone or cable providers. Saving any bit of money towards monthly expenses will make you feel accomplished
31. Pay a small bill off
32. Dye your hair or get a haircut 
33. Have lunch with a friend
34. Don't say one negative word for an entire day. Don't say no, don't say can't, don't say don't!
35. Go grocery shopping and buy only fresh fruit and produce
36. Eat that fresh fruit produce 
37. Go into your actual bank/restaurant/store, don't just go to the drive through. Sometimes this is the only time I see a smile and get a "thank you" or a "have a nice day!" for an entire day. It's nice to return the favor too.
38. Dance
39. Walk around naked
40. Get some lovin' (logically follows #39)
41. Do your hair the night before for work. You'll wake up with one less thing to do. 
42. Pray or meditate 
43. Write someone a thank you note
44. Get acupuncture (community acupuncture can be affordable)
45. Smile as big as you can
1. Read my article on laughter here and make me smile :)
46. Make lemon mint tea. Heat up water, add a lemon slice and a tablespoon of honey with 2 mint leaves. 
47. Declutter and throw away 27 items
48. Watch a funny movie or tv show (I love Arrested Development and The Big Bang Theory for immediate laughs and mood alteration). 
49. Think of five things you like about yourself. Yes, my mom would make me do this whenever I would say something negative about myself. 
50. Make a promise and do it because you said you would. Visit the website Because I Said I Would, linked below & request or print out "promise cards" and follow up on your promises! I'm going to start using these with clients at work. I had a client today make me a promise I'm 5% certain he will keep. I'm eagerly awaiting my cards so I can start handing them out. I promised I would share this website and I am :) http://becauseisaidiwould.com/

I dyed my hair medium chestnut brown...because I said I would and it makes me happy!

My makeshift card while awaiting mine in the mail!

What is your favorite tip to de-stress?  How do you like to relax? Comment and let me know!