Indulge:  Find some sort of release to keep you sane.  Read a book, have a glass of wine, take a bubble bath, or reach for a sweet treat, whatever little luxury you choose, give in to it.  I’ll admit it, I’m a stress eater, and while I normally, I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, when I’m stressed I suddenly crave candy.  We actually have a sweets shelf that never gets touched, usually stocked with sour gummies, and a few chocolate bars in the freezer, just in case.  Since these aren’t things I normally indulge in I don’t feel much guilt caving in, but I am still mindful of portions.  I’ll put some in a little dish so that I don’t wind up eating the whole bag.

Color: My desk calendar and planner are both “coloring” calendars because I like to doodle while I’m brainstorming, but when I need to destress is when I reach for the full on coloring books.  I know adult coloring books seem “trendy” but they really do help alleviate stress, and I’m really loving Vera Bradley’s coloring books.  They’re beautiful and so intricately detailed they keep me occupied for hours but also look pretty left out on the coffee table.

Re-think Chores: When things get very busy sometimes certain tasks need to take a sideline.  The laundry piles up, grocery shopping falls to the wayside, and don’t get me started on making the bed.  Embrace the chaos.  It’s okay to turn to take-out temporarily, besides most portions will cover at least two meals.  And do you realize how easy it is to throw clothes into a Dryel bag and pop it into the dryer?!  You can have clean clothes again in minutes (15 minutes to refresh and 30 minutes to clean) for under $10.  I’ve been relying on Dryel for years — especially the stain remover pens.  Oh, and also, I’ve read that it’s actually better for you to not make your bed all the time, just saying.

Unplug: The last couple of weeks I completely unplugged from social media (and even here on this site).  The only time I spent online was checking emails, and even that was sporadic – I turned my notifications off so I wouldn’t get distracted.  Sure, there were times I felt a strange guilt about not posting anywhere, but it was actually kind of nice to step away.  Sometimes a social media detox is just what you need to stay focused on the tasks at hand.  And it’s good for your sanity and soul.  Fomo is overrated anyway.

Incorporate Music: Play music, listen to music, whatever just bring music into your space.  I don’t play, but my guy does and it always makes me feel better when he picks up his guitar or sits down at the piano.  When live music isn’t an option, I pick a fun play list, turn it all the way up (90s music never fails), and just go nuts.  It helps, trust me.  Even when you’re in full-blown panic mode that whatever deadline or project won’t get done some loud music and a little crazy dancing, the kind that you can’t help but smile doing, will help reset your attitude so you’re ready to tackle anything head-on.