When life becomes overwhelming and stress starts to creep in, it's common to experience a heightened sense of urgency, multitask, and have many plates spinning!
This automatic reaction of speeding up is a direct response to the fight-or-flight within us.
However, it's important to recognise the significance of listening to your body's whispers and emotions instead of suppressing them and to be gentle with yourself.
Three Techniques To Try:
Mindfulness, breathing techniques, and grounding practices support invaluable tools in managing stress and enhancing overall wellbeing. By incorporating mindfulness into our daily routines, we can nurture an awareness of the present moment, allowing us to acknowledge our thoughts and feelings without judgment. This heightened sense of self-awareness enables us to respond to stressors more effectively, rather than react impulsively.
Mindfulness Tip:
When mindfully drinking a warm drink, such as a comforting cup of tea or coffee, the experience can become a soothing mindfulness practice. Start by holding the cup in your hands and noticing its warmth and texture. Take a moment to inhale the aroma, letting the scent fill your senses. As you take a sip, pay attention to the taste and temperature of the drink on your tongue. Feel the liquid as it travels down your throat, warming you from the inside out. Allow yourself to fully immerse in the present moment, savouring each sip mindfully and appreciating the simple pleasure of enjoying a warm drink. This practice can help you slow down, connect with your senses, and bring a sense of peace and relaxation to your day.
Breathing techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or box breathing, play a pivotal role in calming the nervous system and reducing anxiety levels.
Box Breathing:
Also known as square breathing, is a relaxation technique that involves a simple, four-part breathing pattern. To practice box breathing, start by sitting comfortably. Inhale deeply through your nose for a count of four seconds, allowing your breath to fill your lungs. Hold your breath for another count of four. Slowly exhale through your mouth for a count of four, ensuring you release all the air from your lungs. Finally, pause at the end of the exhale for another count of four before beginning the cycle again. Repeat this sequence as many times as you wish, focusing on the rhythmic pattern of your breath.
Grounding:
Walking barefoot is a profoundly underrated health practice that has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, alleviate inflammation, accelerate healing, enhance sleep quality, and boost thyroid function. Interacting with the earth in this way can be remarkably soothing for the nervous system, quickly deactivating the fight-or-flight response and nourishing healing through the parasympathetic system.
And it's free! Why not give it a go… kick off your shoes and connect bare skin to earth to benefit.
In essence, the combination supports a holistic approach to coping with stress and anxiety. By actively listening to our body embracing mindfulness practices, and incorporating grounding into our lives, we equip ourselves with the tools, a tangible anchor, necessary to navigate challenging circumstances with resilience and grace.
It's through these practices that we can nurture a deeper sense of self-awareness and nourish our emotional wellbeing. Small changes can lead to significant improvements over time.
Personally, these techniques supported me through a challenging period when I lost both my dear parents, my mum unexpectedly and within a short timeframe of each other.
I hope they bring you comfort too.
~ Nikki
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