5 Ways to Feel Calmer When You Feel Stressed
Posted on August 26, 2011 by Nancie Vito, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
As a life coach, I help people live their best lives, which includes reducing stress & overwhelm. This article provides 5 practical tips for stress.
In my coaching and workshops, I generally provide recommendations on how to reduce and prevent unnecessary stress. Today’s article focuses on what to do when you’re in the middle of feeling overwhelmed and stressed.
The following are a few tips that can help you manage the “in the moment” stress:
1. *BREATHE. * There are several breathing techniques I use. One of my favorites is simple and quite effective. Inhale on a count of four, hold briefly, then exhale out through your mouth for a count of eight. Be sure to drop your shoulders. The goal here is to exhale for twice the amount of time that you inhale. (You can always do 3 and 6 instead of 4 and 8.) This helps get you centered and gets the oxygen flowing to the brain.
2. Turn your focus to gratitude. Research shows that it is impossible to feel grateful while feeling stressed at the same time. Smile and remember all there is to be thankful for.
3. Close your eyes and think of someone you love, a pleasant memory, or a place that you feel at ease. Focusing on pleasant feelings of love and relaxation helps decrease feelings of fear and anxiety. Imagine a baby smiling at you or picture yourself on the beach with a breeze and warm sun on your skin. This will actually help change brain activity!
4. Take a walk, even for 10 minutes. It amazes me to hear people how many people eat lunch at their desks. Taking a break will help clear your mind, renew your energy and ultimately help with productivity. Practice walking meditation, which helps clear your mind. Start with paying attention to your body. This also helps clear any thoughts you may be ruminating about.
5. Meditate. You can start with two minutes at a time. I like to think of it as pushing the reset button. You can always use a guided meditation online or even on your Smart Phone.
*These are just some of the many techniques that are effective. Remember, there is so much we can do help ourselves! *
Your assignment: Become mindful of stress and tense muscles throughout the day. If you choose only one of the techniques above, I’d suggest taking a few deep breaths when you begin to feel overwhelmed. Focusing on your breathing (and counting) will help turn your attention away from any racing thoughts. Give the other ideas a shot and let me know if you have any questions or would like more information and detail. www.flourishwellness.org
