Sanity Chick
By: Robyn Race
Happier You: 3 Simple Techniques to Knock Out Stress and Actually Spread Cheer!
For many hard-working women, being stressed out may seem to be a way of life…and there is no time of year that leaves us more frazzled than just the rigors of every day life.
Living in a frequent stressful state of being can, amongst other things, cause us to have difficulty focusing on our work, engage in negative thinking, and generally be a less pleasant person to be around. The good news is that with some mindful effort, we can become centered, joyful bestowers of cheer rather than scattered, irritable grinches.
Here are 3 simple techniques:
Daily Mindfulness and Meditation
A clear mind is the secret to remaining calm and peaceful even amidst a frenzy of activities. Five to ten minutes a day of centering the mind can do wonders for minimizing stress. And yes busy ladies, you can even achieve a state of Zen whilst multi-tasking! One great strategy is mindful showering: spend the first 30 to 60 seconds of your daily shower breathing deeply through your mouth and visualizing the water washing away negative energy and any thought that arises, leaving you with a clean spotless mind. As soon as a thought pops up, imagine the water rinsing it away. Continue this process until you feel a sense of peacefulness encompass you. Then proceed with your normal shower routine with a mindful awareness of each activity you are performing. Engage your senses by really smelling the aroma of your favorite bath gel, enjoy the sound of the running water and the feeling of it awakening your muscles and skin, give yourself a brief scalp massage while applying your shampoo.
Later in the day, when you find yourself stressing out, pause for a moment and center yourself by visualizing the experience again.
Do something kind for others:
Helping others not only makes us feel good about ourselves, but has been proven to reduce stress and boost the immune system. The website www.helpothers.org has numerous stories and examples that will lift your spirits and inspire you into action. They will even send out a free set of Smile Cards that can be left along with a random act of kindness in order to encourage others to pick up the pace and pay it forward!
Make yourself a priority:
Make downtime a part of your normal routine. Whether its getting a massage, walking in the park, watching a favorite TV show, etc…reward yourself for a few hours each week by doing something you truly love and enjoy.
The better we feel about ourselves, the more inclined we are to pass that positive energy on to others, appreciate the people and things in our lives, and truly share the gift of love that each of us contains inside. And isn’t that what living is all about?
Robyn Race, MBA, MSCP, is a psychotherapist, personal and professional development coach, and co-owner of Evolve Wellness Spa. www.evolvewellnessspa.com