March 30, 2017

Why You Should Unwind After a Long Day

We all have those long days – you know, the ones when your email inbox(es) never seen to stop pinging? There are deadlines that you can’t ignore anymore. Meetings and phone calls are followed by more meetings and phone calls. And then you get home and if you don’t do something for YOU, then your brain never really shuts off? At least for me, I’ll go to bed with my to do list swirling around… and then it takes me longer to fall asleep! Ahhh!

Because I feel like there might be a few of you out there that can relate to this (?), I thought I’d share a few of my favorite ways to unwind after a long day. Taking the time to follow these steps has become a form of self-care for me… but self-care is oh so important for ALL of us! You’ve heard me say it here before – the better you care for yourself, the better you can be there for others. I promise, if you start creating a “Moment for Me” a few times a week, you will feel a difference!

How to Unwind After a Long Day

1) Make Dinner.
No, I definitely don’t mean stress yourself out more and make a huge meal. But taking the time to make yourself something easy and nutritious can feel really great. Put on a silly tv show or your favorite music and disconnect in the kitchen! It’s always easier if you’ve done a little meal prep earlier in the week, because if you have a batch of cooked quinoa on hand, you just need to add some veggies and/or a protein, and then quickly whip up a delicious dressing, like my homemade peanut sauce! (Yes, this recipe is coming to the blog very soon!)

2) Take a long hot shower with a facial.
This is one of my favorite ways to unwind! Something about physically washing the day off makes me instantly feel better. Add Aveeno Positively Radiant 60 Second In-Shower Facial and I’m all set! This “facial” is almost like a super quick face mask. Keep it on for one minute, let it do its thing, massage it around your face and wash it off! That’s it! It leaves your skin feeling super smooth and there’s no mask mess because you’re already in the shower! Woo!

3) Put on cozy PJs.
Does this one need an explanation?! Take your contacts out, too. It’s glasses time.

4) Read a book with your phone on silent.
I just started Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult, and one of the biggest reasons I haven’t read much yet is because my phone and computer are never far away. So, one of my new goals is to set aside some reading time without any distraction. Total disconnect into the world of the novel.

5) Go to bed early with a good night cream.
It can be hard to turn your life and brain off early, but sometimes going to bed an hour earlier than usual makes ALL the difference. Put on Aveeno Positively Radiant Overnight Hydrating Facial and snuggle up! You deserve the rest!

I’ve been a fan of Aveeno products for a while, and the products I mentioned above are just as awesome as I expected. They’re really gentle and hydrating, and I have a feeling they’ll both be in rotation for a while. Plus, they’re SUPER affordable, which is always a good thing in my book. Taking care of my skin plays a huge role in me feeling and looking my best. I love that Aveeno knows that you don’t need a big budget, or even a lot of time, to have healthy skin. Their products promote that “me time” I talked about earlier in the post, but in such a practical way. Pick up both items at Target, head home, and rest up, lady!