Yesterday I talked about being overwhelmed, but how do you keep those feelings at bay?
One of the things I encourage my clients to do is to practice some basic mindfulness. This doesn’t have to be anything big or woo-woo. I like to sprinkle 5-minute doses of mindfulness throughout my day, especially if it’s a hard or very emotional one. A lot of people I mention this to are under the impression that that means you have to sit there thinking of absolutely nothing for 5 minutes, but I promise it’s not that. You have plenty of options, so choose what feels right for you:
- Guided breathing. There are lots of free apps and recordings of guided breathing exercises. Choose one of the links here, or spend some time on The Googles finding one that feels right to you.
- Appreciate music. Play something you find soothing, energizing, or happy-making. Close your eyes as you listen, and really notice the music.
- List things in your immediate line of vision. You can limit it, for example naming 5 things that are green or 2 things that are alive, or you can just spend time observing and naming things.
- Practice body awareness. Clench your feet as tightly as you can for 5 seconds and then relax them and notice how they feel. Move up to your calves, your thighs, and upward through your body.
- If you’re really feeling stressed, try EFT, a tapping technique to help release stress. I often use it when I’m having insomnia, and you can find loads of free videos and tutorials online to help you understand the technique.
Do you have additional techniques you use when everything feels like too much? Please share in the comments!
