how i relieve stress (without spending money)

since college, my health and fitness routine

have become increasingly important. while it takes

time to build healthy habits, i cannot tell you how

much of a difference i notice in my overall health, skin,

energy and stress levels when i skip the gym. for the 

past several months, i have worked to 'up my fitness game'

by running and completing other outdoor workouts!

being active (and burning those calories)

is much more enjoyable when outside, right?

disclosure: brooks running graciously provided me with the shirt, 

tights, and shoes featured in this post; ailihen provided me with the headphones. 

i am grateful for the opportunity to support and collaborate with these brands! 

all opinions are my own.

after reading fellow blogger, bailey's post from 

hot dress hot mess, i thought it would be fun to share

a few ways in which i relieve stress without

breaking my bank account. a bit of retail therapy can

truly work wonders (trust me, i've done this!), and

a sweet treat can be equally helpful (a cupcake? okay!),

but there are other great ways to reduce stress while

keeping the rest of your body healthy. 

go for a walk

a simple walk outside can do amazing things

for your health! take a deep breath, bundle up if 

necessary, and head outside. whether you walk one

mile or five, you are sure to feel better after

walking. this not only helps relieve stress, but

can quickly add steps to your fitness tracker without

exhausting your body.

call someone who cares about you

'hi mom, it's me... again...'

my mom is usually number one on my call list,

but i greatly appreciate chatting with my

 boyfriend and dear girlfriends when i am stressed. 

having someone listen to and support me feels

greatly reassuring; feedback is always appreciated 

over here, too!

listen to a power playlist

loud music (quiet music, too) can

be a great way to get motivated and feel

inspired. mumford & sons, the lumineers, 

adele, sia, mat kearney, and kesha are among

my current favorites! do you have a favorite

song or playlist that helps you relax?

or get moving?

be present

take five minutes to just be...

...to just be in the moment

...listen to your breathing

...relax your mind

...stretch your neck, back, and arms

and just be...

photos by karya schanilec photography

'run happy' t-shirt: c/o brooks (exact here), 

go-to running tights: c/o brooks (exact here),

revel running shoe: c/o brooks (exact here), 

headphones: c/o ailihen (exact here)

drink a cup of tea

i keep a basket of various teas in my 

kitchen. a warm cup of tea with honey can be

incredibly soothing. cuddle up with your

favorite mug, a soft blanket, and simply relax!

paint your nails

a trip to the local nail salon is

enjoyable, but the cost can add up (i may or

may not be addicted to shellac manicures as of 

late). i have found that painting my nails at home

can be equally therapeutic. put on some relaxing 

music, grab your polish of choice, and paint!

how do you typically relieve stress? 

let me know in the comments!

xoxo.

p.s. if you haven't already done so, be sure to 

check out fellow blogger, bailey's post, 'how to feel

confident without spending money' here.