10 No-Stress Ways To De-Stress.

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I know that many people find exercise to be the best way for them to de-stress. With the exception of doing yoga, I’m generally not one of those people. When I’m exhausted from a long day, the last thing I want to do is throw on my running shoes and pound out a sweat session. So I’ve tried to find easy, no effort was to de-stress during the day, and I thought I’d share them with all of you :)

1. Hot tea.

Whether you’re at work or just got home from a busy day, sipping a mug of hot tea is a great way to calm yourself down. I’ve seen “tension tamer” teas and the like, but I find that regular tea or green tea does the trick as well.

2. Light a candle.

Better yet, light two or three! Candles to me signal relaxation, and just being around them helps me to feel more settled.

3. Intentionally clear your mind.

If you’re anything like me, you have a million and one things running through your head at once. Take a minute or two to just forget about everything, and focus on having a clear mind. It takes some effort at first, but it gives a great sense of release - even if just for a few moments.

4. Rub your temples.

I find that gently rubbing my temples for 30-60 seconds instantly relaxes and calms me. It releases tension and re-sets my focus. Not to mention it feels great!

5. Switch up your routine.

Sometimes I purposefully exercise in the evening rather than the morning, or eat breakfast for dinner. Simply doing things different helps me to live in the moment. Viewing each day as completely separate from the rest helps me to enjoy every moment rather than just mindlessly going through a daily routine.

6. Feed your emotions.

Yeah, I said it! Most people consider this to be a big no-no, but I disagree. I’m not saying to down a sleeve (or two) of Oreos. Instead, make yourself some healthy comfort food. For example, if you get home from a long, stressful day and are cravings carbs, make yourself a huge bowl of loaded oatmeal. Instead of anxiously raiding the fridge, try to find healthy alternatives to dishes that you know will make you feel satisfied and less anxious.

7. Dim the lights.

You may or may not have been sitting under fluorescent lights all day, so give yourself a break and dim the lights for a while. You’re body will naturally want to relax.

8. UNPLUG.

This is definitely the most important tool for me. I work on a computer pretty much all day long with my job and blogging. And when I’m not on the computer, I’m on my BlackBerry or watching television. TURN IT ALL OFF! Even if it’s just for 15 minutes. You’ll be surprised how much your mind will slow down.

9. Put a warm cloth on your forehead.

Take a washcloth soaked in hot water and lay it on your head for a few minutes. You may feel goofy, but it will relieve tension and help you leave behind the stress that accumulated throughout the day.

10. Plan a vacation.

Yeah yeah, easier said than done! But even if you commit to putting away $20 a month towards a vacation, just knowing that you have something to look forward to will put you in a better mood. When something stressful comes up, remember that you have a relaxing, stress-free vacation coming up in the future.

So there you have it! I hope you all find those tips as helpful as I have. Plans for the rest of the day: finish up work, R&R, Vampire Diaries at 8. Don’t I just have the most exciting life? Haha. Buh bye babes. xoxo G

  • Are you an easily stressed out/anxious person? Or do you just “go with the flow?”
  • What is your favorite way to de-stress during or after a long day?


fried cheese.

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Bet I caught your attention with that title, huh? There was some fresh mozzarella on sale at the store the other day, and a craving/recipe popped into my head the minute I saw it. I can’t even remember the last time I had mozzarella sticks…probably the last time I went to the diner at 2 a.m. with my friends. Fried mozzarella is definitely one of my favorite not-so-healthy foods, so I was pretty excited when my version turned out even better than I thought it would. This version is quite a bit healthier than what you’ll find at the diner, but about 10 times more delicious. And yes, it is fried - not baked ;) Here are the ingredients:

8oz fresh mozzarella cheese (I used whole milk, but you could use part-skim as well)
1/4 cup almond flour
1 tbsp ground flax
1 oz almonds
1 egg
olive oil

First I toasted the almonds in a (decent sized) pan on medium heat for about 5 minutes. After removing the almonds I left the pan on medium heat and added 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil. Then I prepped my dipping bowls - one bowl with the beaten egg, one with the almond flour and flax, and one with the crushed almonds (I used a pounder to crush the almonds, but a heavy-ish jar or can would do the trick).

I sliced the cheese into about 1 centimeter-thick discs. One at a time, dip the cheese into the egg, then coat with flour, followed by a coating of crushed almonds, and place in pan. Let it cook on each side for about 2 minutes, and voila! I only fried about 2 pieces at a time just to make sure the heat stayed level and the coating gets nice and crispy. Makes 6-7 pieces.

The finished product:

Do I even have to tell you that this was to die? The almond flour and crushed almonds made for a sweet and crispy outside layer, and the cheese inside was melty and divine. I was perfectly satisfied with two pieces for my entire dinner. Although I may or may not have gone back for a third…

What is your favorite fried food? Can you think of a way to make a healthier version of it?