The wedding is around the corner, your mom is all over you about who is and who is not to be invited, your fiance is either not doing enough or too much in regards to your wedding planning, your boss is giving you more than normal work load, deadline for a project is coming up and you are not quite ready for it and I can go on and on and on about different scenarios on how your stress level can shoot up. If any of the above applies to you, grab a kitchen timer and 10 minutes of uninterrupted time and then do the following:
- The first step is to give yourself permission to practice deep breathing, forgetting any ideas of multi-tasking. Promise yourself 5-10 minutes, twice a day, every day.
- Turn off the cell phone, shut the office door (or go sit in your car) and make sure you can give your full attention to doing nothing.
- Get yourself in a comfortable position. You may be sitting or lying down: it doesn’t matter.
- Loosen tight clothes, and take off your shoes if they aren’t comfortable.
- Set your timer for 10 minutes (or 5 if you’re just starting and fear that 10 minutes of sitting quietly may drive you mad. It won’t, though, and you can work your way up to it gradually.)
- Relax your body. Those muscles you usually suck in, let go of. Let your face droop, too (many of us hold lots of tension in our jaws and foreheads. Especially if you’re prone to headaches, relaxing your face will be most helpful.
- Close your eyes, and focus on your breathing. Usually, the chest rises when you breathe. In deep breathing, your stomach will rise. Feel your stomach rising and falling. If your mind is racing, count your breaths. Otherwise, just concentrate on your breathing. Usually, your mind will wander, so when it does, gently remind it that you are just breathing now and will think of other things later. Don’t get mad at yourself, and don’t give up after only a few tries.
That wasn’t so bad, was it? Now, go out there and tackle your load and enjoy a stress- free day…
affectionately… -jo ann- 480-216-4630 Apropos Creations, LLC
