World-renowned author, storyteller, vibrational healer, and six sensory spiritual teacher
Let's face it. Life is stressful. And when we are under stress we
suffer. It's bad for our health. It leaves us feeling drained and tired.
It fogs our brains. It causes us to disconnect from others. It makes it
difficult to concentrate and robs us of the ability to respond
creatively in life. It's not good for us, and when under stress, let's
face it, it's not good for those around us either. So it's helpful to
have a few stress-busting techniques to reach for when it starts to
creep up on you and take you hostage. Here are a few of my favorite
busters. They are easy to do and work wonders when I need them most,
like right before I give a public presentation, or when running late to
catch a plane, or find myself stuck in traffic, or when talking to
someone who is being very difficult, or when I find myself running
behind schedule and am afraid I am going to get in big trouble for it.
In other words, at least once a day, every day. Try them yourself and
see if you find them as helpful for relieving stress as I do.
- Open your mouth wide enough to hear a click in
your ears and inhale deeply, followed by an audible exhale releasing the
sound "AHHH!" Repeat until relaxed. Three times should do it.
- Sing the song Do-Re-Mi from The Sound of Music. Each note corresponds with one of the seven chakras and calms the entire nervous system and lifts your mood.
- Breathe in deeply and slowly, and as you exhale, notice
something you've not noticed before in your immediate environment and
name it out loud. Such as "pattern in the rug." Then breathe. "The
scratch on the desk." Breathe. "The different colors on the coffee cup."
Breathe. "The design on the base of the lamp." Breathe. Keep noticing
and saying out loud things in full view that you have never noticed
before. Do this for at least 30 seconds to one minute. This stops your
brain from racing forward and back in time and centers you in the
present moment, thus relaxing you.
- Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth and right behind
your front teeth. Next, purse your lips and exhale to the count of eight
as though blowing out a birthday candle. Next, inhale to the count of
seven, followed by holding your breath to the count of four. Then
repeat. This easy breathing technique can calm your thoughts and refresh
your body, inviting stress to flow out and relaxation to flow in.
- Anytime you feel overwhelmed by stress, bend your knees and
wiggle them back and forth as fast as possible for 10 seconds, and then
squeeze your buttocks cheeks together while letting out a very loud and
resounding "AAAAHHHHHHH!" as though screaming all the stress right out
of your body. Then relax. It not only relieves you of the stress
consuming your every cell but also makes you and anyone around you laugh
out loud.
- Start naming, out loud, one thing at a time, every single
thing that you are or feel afraid of right now. Start by naming the
thing you fear most in the moment, and then take in a deep breath. Next,
name something you notice right in front of you. Then repeat. Again,
name something you fear most right now. Breathe, and then again name
something you see right in front of you. Do this until you can't name
any more fears.
- Do my favorite yoga pose. Pull the corners of your mouth to
the ears, and hold it. Maintain this pose for at least 30 seconds. Then
release.
- Thump your chest with your fist and let out the sound "HA! as loud as possible. Repeat. HA! HA! HA! Then laugh.
- Sing your favorite Broadway show tune at the top of your lungs.
- Put your thumb and forefinger together and close
your eyes. Breathe in, while saying the words "I am," and then exhale
saying, "calm." Feel the calm flowing from your heart, through your
body, and out of your fingertips. Do this as many times as needed.
These are all simple, easy, silly, effective, and fun. Try them all
and see which one works best for you. Most of all, just remember: this
too shall pass, and with breath it will pass faster and leave you less
stressed along the way.
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