Stress is normal and surprisingly healthy! It is our inbuilt survival mechanism and when we feel stressed or worried it is our brains way of telling our body to do something proactive so that we can move ourselves to safety. The brain is an amazing thing and without it sending down messages to get us moving we wouldn’t be where we are today. However, unhealthy amounts of stress or feeling constantly stressed can impact our emotional and physical health significantly and we can soon find ourselves becoming short tempered, low in mood and distracted. Practicing some daily self care can help us feel calmer and in control. Below are a few ideas to get you started…
Breathing Exercises
7/11 breathing can help you feel calmer especially if practiced every day. Simply breathe in for a count of 7 and out for 11. If this feels too long, it’s OK, so long as the out breath is always longer than the in breath it will still work. As you breath in, place your hands on your stomach so you can feel it filling with air then breath out emptying your lungs
Take a Walk
Walking and exercising releases endorphins which are your brains 'feel good' neurotransmitters which naturally boost our mood. Exercise improves energy levels and can help us think things through so that we can return to a task or situation with a new frame of mind
Connect With Others
Spending time with friends and family gives us a sense of belonging and love. Plan to always have a date in the diary to look forward to. We are far more likely to meet up with those important people in our lives when its scheduled in.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is about being fully present in the moment. Often we are so busy that we go from A to B without really taking in how we even got there. Bringing yourself into the present moment can reduce stress significantly when practiced regularly. Use your senses to take in what you can taste when you eat, what you can see as you rest your eyes on something you like, notice the sound of your footsteps as you walk. Take in the scent of a candle or the soft feeling of your cushions. Give it a try, it works, honest!
Let Out How You Feel
If you have a trusting friend, let them know how you are feeling. Often we are worried about burdening others with our worries but when we open up to a good friend it brings us closer and often the friend feels more able to share how they are feeling too. There is a lot of truth in the old saying 'A problem shared is a problem halved'.
If you don't feel able to share with someone else then write it down. Keeping a daily journal can be a great way to let go of the stresses we are feeling.
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