Tips to Relax and Enjoy Real Brewed Moments

No matter what day of the week it is, my mornings always start the same way. As soon as I wake up, I pick up my phone, check my email and take a quick scan through my Instagram feed. I’m not much of a morning person, so waking up is a bit of a gradual process for me. I’ve come to learn that getting up is just a little bit easier after I look through photos of pretty outfits, creative flat lays and delicious plates of food.

Many of the feeds that I look through (including my own) are comprised of curated photos, chosen for their aesthetic value and ability to inspire. Each one of those little squares tells part of a story and while it may be a curated story, it’s still part of real life. Part of my life involves sharing, creating and staging photos. I think that’s part of any blogger’s life, isn’t it? I work very hard to ensure that my blog, social channels and any content I share online represents who I truly am as a person. Just because they aren’t “random” doesn’t mean they’re not a reflection of me!

Naturally, my creative, Instagram-loving, blogger persona is only one part of who I am. I also work a full-time job in marketing, play on two softball teams and (sometimes) have a social life. As you can imagine, my to-do list is always a mile long. That said, I genuinely enjoy being busy! I also work better under a bit of stress (and I don’t think I’m alone in that). In order to avoid complete burnout and/or weekly breakdowns, I’ve found that it’s of utmost importance to find moments to relax and enjoy real moments, offline. Since I spend a lot of time online, I try to
unplug as much as possible on the weekends. Scroll through – I’m sharing 6 ways to relax and
enjoy real moments:

6 Ways to Relax and Enjoy Real Moments

Go for a bike ride

If you’re the active-type (or even if you’re not), just hop on a bike and see where it takes you. Bike riding is relaxing because it gives you time away from your phone. It’s a time to focus on
yourself and your surroundings.

Go shopping

If biking isn’t your thing…head to the mall! I find shopping very relaxing, but not when it’s busy. After a long, stressful day at the office, or first thing on a Saturday morning, retail therapy can do wonders to help negate any feelings of stress.

Spend time at the beach, lake or pool

At this time of year, if weather allows, I try to spend time relaxing by the pool or lake at least once on the weekend. I soak up a little bit of sun (always wearing sunscreen!), cool off in the water, and enjoy healthy snacks and drinks. I recently discovered Pure Leaf Iced Tea and it’s become a poolside staple. It’s real brewed tea, made from real tea leaves and perfectly it’s so refreshing on a hot day! Some of the varieties are lightly sweetened, but I also love the unsweetened tea. My choice depends on my mood!

Nap

Sometimes, all you really need is a nap. Don’t fight it – there’s no shame in a quick power nap! I almost always feel so much better after I let myself close my eyes for a few minutes.

Venture into nature

Regardless of where you live, I’ll bet there’s some green space that you can escape to for a little while. Go for a hike in the woods, or even set up a picnic in the park.

Experiment in the kitchen

Of course, if you don’t like cooking, this wouldn’t be relaxing, but for me it is. Just make sure to plan ahead! I like to buy groceries in the morning and unwind later in the day by spending some time in the kitchen.

This weekend, I hope you unplug (at least for a little while) and enjoy those real moments in your life. How else do you like to relax?