It’s all too easy to get swept up in the fast-paced drama of life. Work pressures, family dilemmas, and even choosing what to eat for dinner can pile on stress. The good news is that there are simple techniques you can use to stay grounded during these daily storms of stress.
At least once an hour, you should put down your task and reconnect with your body. Stand and stretch, talk a short walk, or massage sore muscles in your neck and shoulders. Take a moment to drink some water while you’re at it. Many people become mildly dehydrated without realizing it, and that can lead to problems with focus and memory.
Sleep is essential to recharging your batteries. If you’re even moderately sleep deprived, you’re more likely to feel irritable and stressed—and those feelings make it harder to fall asleep! It’s a vicious cycle that’s hard to break. Deep breathing helps, as does taking a soothing shower or bath in the evening. Make sure that you turn off the TV and phone half an hour before bedtime. It’s also a good idea to reduce the amount of light in your bedroom as much as possible so that your body recognizes when it’s time to sleep.
Sugar is not your friend. Sure, it seems like it wants you to be happy, but after that initial rush from a donut or Frappuccino, you’ll feel worse than before. Managing the highs and lows of your blood sugar with natural, unprocessed foods will help you feel better throughout the day. Mindful eating—where you take time to really focus on the meal and how it makes you feel, rather than shoving food in your mouth while you multitask—can also help you stay on a healthier path.
While it’s a good thing to spend less time on your phone, that doesn’t mean you can’t use it wisely. There are a number of meditation and relaxation apps available for free, plus many more that charge a fee or recurring membership. You can also try streaming some relaxing music or nature sounds.
Check out YouTube for plenty of free videos featuring rainstorms or oceans. Finally, if you think that you don’t have time to read, try listening to an audiobook while you complete routine chores. You’ll get the relaxation benefits of being lost in a good book while still feeling productive. It’s a great way to stay grounded.
Don’t check your phone first thing in the morning. Those precious minutes belong to you—and you alone. Before you let the outside world in, with its news updates and emails and demands, develop a routine of relaxation, focus, and grounding to prepare you for the day. A few yoga stretches or a brief, simple meditation can change your whole outlook. If you’ve never tried journaling before, you may also discover that setting a daily intention—not a to-do list, but an overall goal—can help drive the rest of your day in the right direction.
