1Stress can be hard to manage. When you begin feeling like the white rabbit in Alice in Wonderland, always in a hurry and busy,busy, busy; relaxing and renewing your energy should be your top priority. Here are five easy steps to help you relax, rev up and release the stresses of everyday life.
- Put your toys away. Disconnect from technology. Shut off the cell phones, turn off the TV, unplug the computer and pretend the electricity is off for an hour. Read a book, play a board game or just daydream.Take three deep breaths through your nose, feeling your stomach fill up and then hold each breath for twenty seconds before slowly exhaling through your nose. Try to force every bit of air out of your stomach. The rush of oxygen will revive your tired brain. Try this lying flat on your back with a book on your stomach, concentrate on watching the book move up and down.Play pretend. Be a cat and stretch like one. Arch your back and stretch out your hands and feet. Try to touch the wall on the other side of the room. Feel the tension fall from your fingertips. Curl up in the fetal position and then stretch again. You can even lay on the back of the couch if you want to.Take an extra-long recess. You know that exercise releases happy feeling endorphins, so what are you waiting for? Try a Tai Chi class or a ballroom dance class. Go swing or play hopscotch. Go for a bike ride or a nice long walk. Try walking in a different neighborhood, maybe you'll make a new friend.Don't forget the early bedtime. Go to bed at the same time every night. Keep the bedroom for sleeping and leave the TV off. Open a window and let in some fresh air. Can't sleep? Eat a light snack of yogurt before bedtime, the calcium has a relaxing, calming effect on your system. Do your breathing exercises counting backwards from 100 when you exhale. Imagine the most serene setting, and place yourself there. Sometimes the most stress-free place to be is inside your imagination.
