We live in a stressful world – we have all felt it at some time or other. It can sometimes seem impossible to shift. Here are some techniques that may help:
Gentle Exercise: Start at your feet and work your way up your body tensing and then relaxing each part. If your body is physically relaxed, then you can’t be stressed.
Change the Scenery: Read a book, take a shower, go for a walk, play with the dog – spend just 10 minutes doing something different to change your state.
Meet a friend: Make a pot of tea or coffee, catch up and have a chat.
Breathing Exercises: Think about your breathing, and only your breathing. Be aware of your breath in and your breath out. Focus on the feeling of inhaling and exhaling.
Try Meditation: Nowadays there are plenty of apps to help you to learn how to meditate. Meditation involves finding a quiet space and although you may notice things going on around you, it teaches you to learn not to react. Every moment spent in this state can be beneficial.
Get Creative!: Do something you enjoy like baking, drawing or crafts. These all require you to focus which takes take you away from the stress. Even better if it’s a physical activity like kneading bread.
Pray: If you have faith prayer can be comforting.
Practice a rhythmic activity: Play a musical instrument or even use your hands to drum on a table top. Any thing rhythmical can help – just like the rhythm of running or jogging.
Get out a sketch book: Concentrate on drawing or try to write a poem – focus your attention only on this.
Go walking or running: Releasing Endorphins can be a fantastic stress buster. Go for a run or a walk. This will also give you time to think.
Practise Mindfulness: Be in the moment – concentrate on one of your senses at a time. Look at something wonderful and really think about what you can see. Take a bit of your favourite food and savour the flavours and textures. Breath deeply your favourite scent and focus on how it makes you feel. Stress you disappear!