Stress Relief
The only constant in our lives is change itself. When life is moving a little too fast, it's time to stop, take a deep breath, and take care of yourself. Here are some ideas to relieve stress, find balance and increase joy.
Daily Practices |
10 Daily Practices. My top 10 recommendations for reducing stress & increasing energy: Wake Refreshed, Breathe, Meditate, Hydrate, Move, Eat Well, Get Outside, Connect, Unplug & Give Thanks (click here for more).
Daily Affirmations. Check out my Affirmations for Stress Relief. Vata Tips. Use the principles of Ayurveda to reduce stress. Sit & savor your food. Sit in a peaceful environment without distractions and savor your food. Eat slowly and mindfully. Enjoy my Sacred Art of Eating and the Institute for the Psychology of Eating's 10 Simple Strategies to Forever Change Your Relationship with Food. Eat foods that will ground and calm you. Ayurveda teaches us that sweet, sour and salty foods that are served warm are best for stress. Click here for Ayurvedic food guidelines and a food list. Unplug early. Try to turn off ALL your screens 2 hours before bedtime. Instead of connecting with technology, connect with yourself. Journal, take up an old hobby, gaze at stars, take a walk, meditate, do some gentle yoga or stretching exercises. Use a weekly meal planner. Planning ahead is always a great stress reducer. Each Sunday or Monday, create a weekly menu and use it your a weekly grocery trip (click here for my Weekly Meal Planner). Prep food the night before to make your morning run more smoothly. Schedule your exercise, meditation and yoga time right into your calendar. Enjoy a hobby. Reading, dancing, yoga, knitting, gardening, writing, painting and other hobbies have been scientifically proven to reduce stress. Create a Fun & Joy List. Then commit to scheduling these activities into your calendar. Give yourself a warm oil massage. Click here for benefits and instructions for Abhyanga and Head & Foot Self-Massage. Use calming essential oils. Sniff, diffuse or apply topically. My favorite evening routine is a warm Epsom salt bath with 5 drops of lavender or Serenity essential oil. Both the essential oil and the magnesium in the Epsom salt will calm and relax you. You can also apply essential oil to the bottoms of your feet (then cover with cotton socks) right before bed. Leave your favorite uplifting quote on your fridge, desk or wall. Get inspired here. Take movement breaks throughout the day. Try this free app to remind you take move regularly. |
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Breathing Exercises (Pranayama) |
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Here's a 5 minute video of Dr. Andrew Weil demonstrating the classic 4-7-8 Breathing Exercise.
There are many types of Pranayama, or yogic breathing practices.
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Yoga |
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Take a yoga class. Join me in my next yoga class! Access my class schedule here.
No time to make it to a class? Click here to access several free on-line streaming yoga classes. |
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Clear your Clutter |
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Clear your clutter! While a deep home cleaning creates amazing shifts on many levels, you can create smaller shifts of increased energy and emotional lightness by just cleaning out a kitchen drawer!
My favorite book on this subject is Karen Kingston's Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui. Cate Stillman of Yogahealer has a wonderful recommendation: Bring an empty box into a room and start to purge what isn't aligned with your potential self. For each item, ask yourself "Does this add joy, value or purpose into my life?". If it doesn't, drop it off at a thrift store. You can also check out Whole Living's on-line guide to clearing your clutter and 7 Feng Shui Tips to Spring Clean Your Home & Your Life. Here are some tips on cleaning your financial clutter. |
More Stress Relief Tips |
