We’ve all been inundated with loads of stress over the last several months with the pandemic, social causes, cancelled school, work life… the list goes on. It can be difficult to really take a moment and just take a deep breath, let alone assess how you feel or where you are at in all of it.
I want to share some tips to help you take a moment for yourself. These tips will help you not only manage the stress of everyday life but help you assess where you should focus your self care.
- Practice being mindful
This one has been written about a million times. I know I would read articles or watch videos and I never quite understood it until recently. The best way I’ve found to be mindful is through a body scan meditation. There’s tons of videos on YouTube that can provide a guide. Here’s one of my favorites.
My idea of being mindful is checking in with yourself. If a guided meditation isn’t your thing, that’s fine. It’s all about stopping and taking a moment to ask yourself, “Am I ok? What do I need? How am I feeling right now?” and then allowing yourself a moment to provide that.
My biggest issue with this was not really understanding what I was feeling in my body at any given moment other than knowing I felt stressed, upset or anxious. Once I started stopping and asking myself those questions, I was able to identify what was triggering me and decide if it was something worth the emotional fuel I was giving it or could I let it go. From this practice, I grew into body scan meditations to really focus on how my body carried around the emotions I had from day to day. Game changer!
- Movement
Sometimes we need to workout those feelings in our bodies by exhausting it or get the energy moving more throughout. I find the more I practice tip 1 above, the more I can interpret what my body is asking for in that moment. Sometimes a quick walk outside with fresh air will get me motivated and reduce my stress level. Sometimes I need a long hike to really get my body working out the tension and stress. Other times a fun dance video and being a little silly dancing around my living room is the ticket to less stress.
I especially love any movement that incorporates playfulness. Check out some of these videos to get your move (and laugh) on. Also the great thing about this, it incorporates play and we oftentimes forget to play as adults and be a little silly. It does wonders to reduce stress and reconnect us with our inner child in a fun way.
- Deep breathing
Doctors, psychologists, counselors, yogis and many others have sung the praises of deep breathing for many, many years. There’s tons of science that backs up their opinion. I’m sure you’ve read tons of articles similar to this one that tells you to practice deep breathing.
BUT, have you actually tried it?
I was guilty for a long time of saying I understood the benefits, saying it made sense, etc but I never really practiced it. It seems silly or so simple how it could possibly make that big of a difference. I would dismiss it as soon as I agreed to it’s benefits.
Crazy right?!
But then, I tried it consistently and without judgement. And it works.
It really does help your body relax and release tension stored in any area. Although, it definitely works sitting up, I prefer to do this laying down. I think it helps me focus more on the breathing and less on my posture.
Deep breathing also helps me feel my feelings without judgement. When I start to feel myself judging how I’m feeling, I just take another deep breath and remind myself I am not my feelings and it will pass. This small step has raised my awareness of my emotions so much I’m able to quickly move through them (mostly) and release them. It’s an amazing experience.
- Laughter
I love this one. I love to laugh. I love to smile. I enjoy little nerdy, sarcastic things in life. Afterall, laughter is the best medicine.
Laughter releases endorphins into our bodies which reduces stress. You’ve experienced it many times. You’re having a bad day and you talk with a friend that makes you laugh and suddenly everything seems better.
It’s amazing to me something so simple can make such a big impact. Just goes to show you God knew what he was up to when he created laughter and humor.
It builds your connection with another person as well. And feeling connected can also reduce stress.
So find ways to increase laughter in your life especially in times of higher stress. Watch a funny movie or stand up comedian. Call a friend you enjoy laughing with. Watch funny YouTube videos. Act goofy alone and laugh at yourself! There are endless ways of creating laughter in your life. Discover your favorite and do it. Laughter is healing.
- Journaling
Again, another one that many, many people have boasted the benefits of for years. But this one takes more discipline I believe. I’m sure it’s more so about my personality but this practice takes on more of a ritual sense than the others.
I enjoy finding the perfect journal, the perfect pen and the perfect time/place to spill my inner thoughts and feelings out on the page. I know to some that may seem silly. To some scribbling on a napkin throughout the day may be enough to provide some sort of therapeutic reward. That’s fine. It’s YOUR process. Embrace it.
The purpose really is to create a process that works for you without judgement on whether it’s right or wrong or if it’s what everyone else is doing. Just put everything you are thinking, feeling, wondering, struggling with down on paper. Getting it out really is the only requirement of journaling.
We tend to hold things in and struggle to express it to another person. That’s the beauty of writing it down. It gets it out without being interrupted or misunderstood and you’ll start to feel lighter in a sense. And if you truly are worried about whether not someone will find it and get upset about what’s written, just destroy it after. It’s served its purpose after you’ve written it down so there’s really no point to keep it. Unless, of course, you want to.
In summary, I hope these suggestions, although not earth shattering, will give you a new perspective on them. Consider trying one today or a different one every day until you find one that works for you. We all need all the help we can give ourselves right now. Take time to give yourself time to breath and release the tension and stress. You’ll be better all around for it. Holding anxiety, worry, stress, tension or whatever else will not serve you. Be well.
Radiantly Undone Life Coaching 