I participated in an Ambassador Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
Being a mom who runs a business from home means that I’ve got a lot riding on my shoulders. I’m the boss, employee, earned runner, manual worker, photographer, writer, editor, PR person and email gopher all rolled into one. To say I have a lot to do on a daily basis is putting it mildly, and naturally I carry around a lot of stress. I think I handle it pretty well – I don’t let it get to me *too* much, and I am always one to keep on pushing through because I am a very determined person. I am living my passion, after all, and that’s something that you want to hold onto with everything that you’ve got. But, at times, it does come at a price. Most nights I crash into bed around 2am, exhausted from a day full of being on task. Seriously – it’s exhausting being creative every.single.day. and having a job that depends on that. So, one thing I have found that keeps me sane is to find small ways to lessen that stress and refresh myself, whether I step away for a few minutes to stretch my legs or even curling up with a cup of Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk, it’s the little things that add up and help me keep on trucking.
Coffee Break
I’m a coffee lover. I love it hot, I love it cold, and I love it mixed with yummy add-ins. What I don’t love is waiting for it to brew, so I keep my fridge stocked with ready to drink iced coffee like the new Gevalia Iced Coffee with Almond Milk. You already know I’m a non-dairy lover, and almond milk is a staple around my house, but not a lot of ready to drink coffee is lactose free. In fact, a lot of them use whole fat cream or regular cow’s milk, which isn’t something I am down with.
It is great fresh out of the fridge and is available now at grocery stores across the U.S. in three flavors: Vanilla, Caramel and Mocha. It’s made with rich 100% Arabica Gevalia coffee, almond milk, each single serve carton has 9 grams protein and it comes in single serve packs of 11.1 fl oz or multi serve packs of 33.8fl oz. I think it has just the right amount of sweetness that isn’t overpowering, and I love that I don’t have to wait for it to be ready. I love my coffee breaks, and when I say break I mean it. I don’t want to sip and work, so I take ten minutes away from my computer (even if I’m at my desk – I just turn off the screen) and look through a new magazine while I take my coffee. It gives me fresh eyes when I turn back to my work, and I think that the more short breaks I take, the more productive I am. Crazy, right? But it works!
Open your sense of smell.
Okay guys, this sounds a little corny, but when I’m in a room that smells good I feel like it can relax me. Smell is a pretty powerful sense (aromatherapy anyone?) and it has the ability to instantly change my mood. I work in a home office, which is a room in my house filled with my desk, my computers, and my photography gear. Visually it’s pretty gorgeous, but pretty doesn’t help me when I’m tired, frustrated, or just burnt out. In those instances I use scents to help refresh my mind. My favorite for keeping a clear head is eucalyptus, and I keep a bottle of eucalyptus lotion on my desk for when I need it. You can use candles or oils as well, but I find that using lotion has a double effect – massaging it into my skin feels good too!
Listen to the music
It seems like there are two camps on this subject: those who find music helps them focus, and those that find it distracting. I am an oddball and find myself somewhere in between. If I’m feeling particularly stressed or blocked in my work, I will turn on some quiet instrumental music to help me let go of what’s going on in my head. Not only does it help me “escape”, but the sounds ease my tired mind as well. One simple thing I do to take a break and refresh is to pick a song, put my head on my desk, and just sit there quietly until the song is over and then go about my work again. It feels great to rest my eyes, and it’s like a mini-nap sometimes
