These days, it seems like we’re always busy. Between juggling work schedules, social calendars, and keeping up with family, it’s no wonder self care is one of the first things to slip through the cracks. Sounds familiar? Take a beat right now. Unclench your jaw, let your shoulders drop, and let’s get down to the business of daily decompressing. We’ve got some tips and tricks to reclaim your cool. And, hey! Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Breathe. No, seriously.
We don’t want to get all kitschy guru on you, but breath is the foundation of everything. When was the last time you took a deep, intentional breath? If you can say in my yoga class this morning, then great! Feel free to move on to the next step. For the rest of us…
Luckily, breathing is something you can—and have to—do everywhere you go. You won’t always have time to light incense, dim the overheads, and crank the Enya. So it’s important to practice small deep-breathing routines throughout your day. According to the world’s leading breathing expert Alison McConnell, taking six to ten deep, slow breaths per minute for just ten minutes a day can help reduce your heart rate and blood pressure.
Check in with yourself.
Breathing? Check. Now how about the rest of your body? When we get wrapped up in projects, (or caught up in anxiety), it can be easy to forget about our bodies. When you start to feel stress build up, run through a quick inventory. How’s your temperature? Are you too warm or too cold? Have you eaten recently? Are you drinking enough water? Are your muscles tense? Is your breathing shallow? We recommend starting with the top of your head and working your way down, making mental notes and correcting problems as you go.
It doesn’t need to be a super involved process. This conscious check-in just gives you a minute to reset your sympathetic nervous system and stop stress in its tracks.
Work it out.
We might be biased, but we think exercise is one of the best ways to decompress on the daily. And experts seem to agree. That’s because exercise helps your brain produce endorphins: the body’s natural pain killing hormone. Plus, endorphins make you happy.
Plus each type of exercise has its own added benefits. Need some time to work through your thoughts and get in the zone? Lace up those running shoes and hit the trails. Have some pent up frustration you need to take out? Our punching bags can take it. If you’re more interested in slowing down and unwinding, we’ve got a variety of yoga classes to help you reconnect and center yourself.
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Even if you packed up everything you own and moved to a cabin in the woods tomorrow, stress would still be there. It’s a natural and normal response to living. But, if you’re conscious of your stress responses and work to decompress on the daily, you can keep it from getting the better of you. And Swell is here to help.