At home or downtown: How to relax, pamper yourself

School can be a major source of stress for many college students. Sometimes weeks go by where nothing pressing is due and then, all of a sudden, school work starts to pile up. Whether its balancing class, homework, or extracurriculars, it seems that college students always have a reason to be stressed out.

“There’s no reason to get stressed out because of school, in the big scheme of things these are (only) small things” senior criminal justice major John Tucker said.

Scheduling daily alone-time or spa-time once a week, even if just for 20 minutes to an hour can be quite beneficial. Not only does pampering oneself feel good, but it also makes one feel better about life and can add to overall well being. Pampering and self-care aid in happiness and personal nurturing.

According to an article in the New York Times doing relaxation techniques such as talking to a trusted family member or doing yoga is very healthful.

“Hanging out with my friends is my favorite way to relax,” junior psychology major Haleigh Hopkins said. “Even just being around friends and people and away from school work for a small time can help tremendously.”

There are many simple, practical and relatively simple at-home remedies to help alleviate stress, as well as a few local spas around Milledgeville that offer relaxing and helpful services. Pampering and taking good care of oneself can be both a source of relaxation and pure bliss.

Although exercise doesn’t seem like an ideal way to relax when done on a regular basis, it releases endorphins, known as the runner’s high, resulting in natural sense of well being and uplifted spirits. Even remembering to do something as simple as smiling, on a regular basis can alleviate your mood because that also releases endorphins.

According to a Skidmore College study featured in Cosmopolitan magazine, people who take bigger strides, swing their arms and walk with their heads up by picturing themselves walking down a runway, feel happier than those who take short, shuffling steps.

While it is thought that spa trips and pampering are only primarily for females, it can also be are just as beneficial for males.

An Esquire UK magazine blogger, Best Dressed Man, recently wrote about his treatment at the spa. He said that is skin was “glowing” afterwards and he had never felt better.

One of the simplest ways to relax and unwind is a bubble bath. It soaks the muscles, deep cleanses the body and helps you mentally unwind. This is proved by the countless articles and aromatherapy bath product available online. Homelife, an online magazine from Australia, has seven recipes for bath oils including one for “reviving” you. Home remedies are usually more inexpensive, yet require a little more planning to make them work.

Homemade face masks are always a simple and common source that aids in relaxation. Most of the time you don’t even have to leave your home to buy ingredients to make a mask, normal everyday foods work together in wondrous ways. Mixing together half a cup of oatmeal oats, an egg, two tablespoons of honey and a few drops of mix makes a paste, that if warmed can be applied to the face for fifteen minutes. Once rinsed off, it will leave your skin smooth and soft. For a more relaxing recipe vanilla, mint or lavender drops can be added to the mixture for more of an aromatherapy effect.

Another simple way of self pampering is a foot soak. Adding epsom salts, essential oils and warm water to a basin and soaking your feet can be a tranquil, detoxifying experience. For a more massage-like effect marbles can be added to the bottom of the basin. Roll them under the soles of your feet. After a 30-minute soak wrapping feet up in plastic wrap with help and continue to soften skin; giving the ultimate effect of a spa at home.

Charmed Unique Boutique & Spa downtown offers various types of massages and facials that can help students lessen stress. Charmed is owned and operated by a mother-daughter team, whose philosophy is “What we do is healthy for you.” All of the services offered are health conscious and beneficial. The most common services students get is eyebrow waxing and facials.

“With the regular facials we get the problems on the face worked out and it’s a relaxing service,” Assistant Manager Carolle Mayfield said.

She also says that the best thing to relax is a bubble bath.“The best at home remedy for anyone is a good hot bath. Unplug. Lock the door. Light some candles. And (start) a nice warm tub.”

Whether you decide to go for a run, soak in the bath, treat yourself to a massage, remember that everyone needs to spoil and themselves every once in a while.

Posted by VictoriaGarofolo on Feb 10 2011. Filed under Close Up, Special Sections. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.