Feel like you’ve been drowning the past [day][week][month][semester][year]? We’ve all been there: you’re overworked, and life has finally taken its toll on you. You’re feeling ragged, possibly even a bit down on yourself because you haven’t had the coveted “me time” you’ve been needing. While your schedule may still be overworking you, here are a few unexpected pick-me-ups. Some of which you can even fit into your lunch break!
1. Pamper Yourself
While this may seem like an obvious solution, as women we like to go a bit overboard with the pampering. If your schedule is still screaming demands at you, find small ways to pamper yourself. The perfect example: freshly done brows. Your eyebrows frame your face—the first thing people see; having them done (waxed or threaded) will give a cleaner feeling to your face instantly. My next suggestion is something you don’t even need to pay for (unless you’re in the market for a new shade): do your own mani / pedi! There’s nothing more perfect than those afternoons when you can carve out an hour or so to remove old polish, file, shape, and apply fresh coats to my digits and toes. It’s more rewarding than you think—and no one to tip but yourself 🙂
2. Feel Sexy…For YOU
When stress levels are high, sex is the last thing on your mind. But feeling sexy doesn’t equate to sex. My most surprising pick-me-up was my first Brazilian wax. What you’d expect to be a painful trip to the salon actually leads to a huge mood boost upon exiting the building. You’re walking along the sidewalk after you’re bare down there and realize you have a sexy secret. It sounds weird, but it’s a provocative treat for yourself! Another way to feel sexy: indulge in lingerie that YOU want, not him. Even if you don’t ever have an occasion to don slinky slips or tantalizing teddies, the mere act of browsing through the selections online or in person will make you feel a bit decadent and take your mind off of the stressors in your life.
3. Let Your Mind Take a Break
When you’re overworked, you’re overworked physically and—more importantly—mentally. Giving your mind a break for about 15-20mins will give you enough mental clarity to resume your task at hand with a fresh outlook. Things as simple as going for a walk on a nice day (or your lunch break!) or even calling your best friend from home just to catch up and see what’s new in his/her life can be all it takes to rejuvenate your mind.
4. Expand Your Mind
After an extended period of time where your mind is hyper-focused on a specific task at hand, you can often have mental fatigue and not know why. If you can take the time to learn a new recipe or try a book in a new genre you will feel a bit more adventurous—opening your mind to new experiences is the best thing when stuck in your work-induced rut.
5. Take the Focus Off of YOU
When pining for that much-needed “me time,” we often think about it a lot. When we think about ourselves a lot we tend to dwell on things, which only makes your overwhelmed feeling worse. Take the focus off of you and your woes! Strike up a conversation with a stranger, compliment someone ELSE, or even focus more on others throughout your day. Did you say Hi to your doorman/mailman/bus driver/server at the cafeteria?—it will make you feel a bit more at ease.
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