“Be a warrior, not a worrier.” – Anon
Stress will often manifest in our lives when we carry over yesterday’s worries into today. Stress can accumulate if we collect it day after day without letting some of it go. Inevitably, if we are not paying attention, our stress level will end up on high, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. Therefore, we must be able to “dump” all our concerns from the previous day and concentrate completely on the day at hand. After all, we cannot go back and change the past, but we can change the future by focusing on making good choices today. So, let’s learn some ways to reduce our stress, with the added bonus of improved health.
So here are 3 stress busting tips.
Stress Busting Tip #1: Let it go and put it on a shelf.
Your body feels tense, and your mood uptight – you need an instant stress buster. Resolve right now to release every worry thought from yesterday and be only mindful of the now…one thought at a time…consciously focus on the breath…surrender to the moment. Take in three deep breaths and slowly release each one. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Close your eyes.
With every outbreath, allow each concern, each problem, and each unresolved moment dissolve into the ether. To make the most of the present moment, we must release ourselves from the burdens of the past. If something is unresolved, you can deal with it later – schedule in time to look at the problem if you must but, for now, give yourself permission to be in this very moment. Do it for the sake of the future, for to make a better tomorrow we cannot carry all the heavy burdens of the past around in our mind.
So, go now to that inner quiet place in your mind. By the power of imagination, go deep into the inner silence, go to a place where you feel at peace, and then just relax and breathe. Enjoy the feeling of being at peace within yourself – repeat, “I am worthy of happiness and peace”, until it sinks into your subconscious, and you start to feel your mind and body relax into the present moment.
Use this special time and place to be calm. Free your mind and body of all worry, all regret, all disappointment, all anger, and all grief. You are free, you are free, you are free.
Stress Busting Tip #2: Good Memory Moment
Next, a stress buster that works well with tip #1. In this activity you think of one specific moment in your life when you felt happy and at peace: such as holding your baby, walking on the beach, laughing with a friend, or listening to your favorite music. Remembering a happy or peaceful moment is not the same as living in the past, but rather using the past as a springboard to happiness in the present. As you dwell in the good memory, allow the happiness you felt at that time to seep into every cell of your body and mind, let your heart expand, and allow your nervous system to slow down. Your special moment is a place you can revisit whenever you get stressed out, to remember who you are, and remind yourself what peace feels like.
Practice this act of quiet and calm each time you feel overwhelmed – to liberate yourself from tension and return to relaxation. At the first sign of being stressed, go back to this mindful, quiet moment, and start the next moment in a new frame of mind.
Stress Busting Tip #3: Self Care Habits
There is a scientifically proven connection between our body and our mind – the health of our bodies can contribute positively or negatively to our level of stress by the mere act of eating, sleeping and moving.
Often when we are stressed, we reach for foods or drinks that we know are not good for us, such as too much coffee, fast food, sugar, chips, and alcohol. In addition, to do all the things we have to do in the day, we will sacrifice our down time, forgetting that rest and sleep are essential elements to keeping our energy up. But what we may not realize, that by sabotaging our diets and sleep, we are increasing our stress levels which over time will reduce our ability to be productive and effective.
One of the first things we should be mindful of when we notice we are going through a stressful period of time, is sticking to a healthy food choices, engaging in exercise, and maintaining a sleep routine. By limiting the amount of salt, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol in our diets, and increasing the efforts to drink more water and eating more whole foods, we are supporting the chances of our own success. Making good lifestyle choices will nourish our bodies and minds, increasing our energy and ability to cope with life, instead of draining ourselves of vital nutrients and energy.
Don’t forget to take the time to breathe properly, too! Take deep belly breaths and send that good ole’ oxygen to all your cells. Laugh, and then laugh some more – laughter is food for the soul. Spend time doing at least some things that make you happy, even if it is only listening to music on your commute to work. By maintaining some balance in our life during times of stress we are also protecting our relationships by working on staying calm and happy, which in turn will mean we won’t lash out with irritability or anger to those people that matter the most to us in our lives.
When we are content and living a balanced life every day, we are better equipped to deal with life’s many stressors. You can take control today! If you are feeling overwhelmed right now, start on the basics and commit to making sure you go to bed at a decent time, limiting your caffeine intake, or grabbing that apple instead of a candy bar. With continued effort, you are not only bound to reduce your stress level but you will unexpectedly find more success in your life.
