Tips/Ideas/Rituals for Everyday Stress Reliefhttps://wabisabiletter.substack.com/

lsheehy·Mar 26, 2021

In light of my recent wellness venture, I wanted to share ways that all of us can reduce stress (especially, short-term accessible ways). I also want to ask the community what your best tips/ideas/rituals are for simple stress relief.Here are some things we can all do with the resources we have:Meditation: Specifically mantra meditation. A mantra is a word or phrase silently repeated over and over again in your head for a series of time in a serene environment. You might notice that first your mind floats to things like grocery lists, past conversations, but then slowly your mantra quiets your mind bringing you to the present moment. You might notice that your self-referred thinking decreases, cultivating a greater sense of compassion for others. This is due to the reduced activity in the brain's default mode network, which regulates both of those experiences. Guided imagery sessions: Similar to meditation, guided imagery involves you listening to recordings of peaceful scenery, or imagining yourself in a quiet, peaceful environment. It enables you to close your eyes and get lost in the present moment. Of course, Youtube has amazing guided imagery playlists to explore. Simple Breathing Exercises: Even mindful breathing can increase awareness of self and bring your heart rate down, minimizing feelings of stress and anxiety. Here are some tips that can be practiced anywhere:1. Breathe in through your nose and watch your belly fill with air. Count slowly to three as you inhale. Hold for one second and then slowly breathe out through your nose as you count to three again.2. Breathe in through your nose and imagine that you're inhaling peaceful, calm air. Imagine that air spreading throughout your body. As you exhale, imagine that you're breathing out stress and tension. Take A Walk: There really is value to taking a breath of fresh air and getting your heart rate up during particularly busy or stressful seasons. There are studies to support that being in nature increases feelings of happiness and even creativity. If you’re stumped on a particularly task, consider taking a quick walk around the block. It will likely enable you to pick up your project with fresh eyes and a better mood. KonMari Your Habits: Easier said than done. But stress can often be exacerbated from various external factors that you might not even be aware of. Consider switching from coffee to decaf herbal tea after a certain time in the day. You may not realize it on a conscious level but consuming too much caffeine, drinking alcohol, and even being glued to your phone on breaks can significantly increase feelings of stress in your life. Balance is key in everything in life. Not to mention, positive social support. It might be tough to connect in-person, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Know your limits and boundaries as they relate to your relationship with stress, and provide positive support for your friends as well. You can sign up for the wabi-sabi letter at https://wabisabiletter.substack.com/ to get daily health & wellness snippets like these delivered straight to your inbox.Elphas! Please, I would love to hear your tips/ideas/rituals for stress relief below.

mariw·Mar 26, 2021

I've really enjoyed taking time in the morning to make matcha or coffee -- something that has a few steps, is not too complicated and makes me feel like the morning is slow rather than hectic.

AllisonNguyen·Mar 26, 2021

Whenever I need a quick break, I'll play an online game that doesn't take too long like GeoGuessr or Word Master (basically Scrabble) on my phone. It's a nice way to sneak fun in the work day and release some dopamine for instant stress relief.

Iynna·Mar 27, 2021

Thank you for sharing those super useful tips! I've also added your post to the Health and Wellness community for greater visibility! :-)

Stefania207·Mar 28, 2021

A good sweat session at the end of the day is so important for me to disconnect. A good workout paired with laying still for 10 minutes or so really helps me decompress.

AimeeThompson9·Mar 29, 2021

Thank you for sharing these tips! I'm trying to be better about really sitting with my favorite moments of the day and fully experiencing them (i.e. my morning coffee, cuddling with my kitten, warm sunshine, etc.). It's so easy to get caught up in the motions and forget to appreciate the little joys.

lsheehy·Mar 29, 2021

Me too! Morning coffee and kitten cuddles as we speak. I'm also finding joy in the messy transitional times, like now due to covid WFH I can spend a quieter morning like this.

aninatd·Mar 31, 2021

Thanks for the tips! I started meditating a few months ago but haven't been as disciplined with it. It really helped with my anxiety, though, so when things get to feel like they're too much, I burn a little incense and meditate with the Calm app. The combination of the meditation with the aromatherapy does wonders.

lsheehy·Mar 31, 2021

Ooo I'm interested in aromatherapy, do you have recommendations for scents? I'm constantly searching for the ephemeral scent of my pre-covid yoga studio.

aninatd·Mar 31, 2021

So I've just been using different types of incense lately (burn VERY lightly because that stuff is STRONG!) and then I have my tried and true lavender essential oil. If I start getting too worked up and it's the middle of the day and I can only do a short mediation or take some deep breaths, I dab lavender oil on my wrists and rub it lightly down my neck (kind of like in yoga or a massage). With the incense, I like https://prabhujisgifts.com/collections/incense-sticks - my favorite is the "Solar Plexus Chakra Manipura - Power and Self-confidence" one and I've tried a few others too

lsheehy·Apr 01, 2021

Thank you so much!