Some of us might not have slept very well last night. I know I didn’t. I think it’s fair to say that a lot of people are going through the motions today in kind of a blur. For those of us who are finding it hard to concentrate, try some of these techniques.
These are some natural coping mechanisms that I use to stay calm, stay present and stay happy while everything else seems so crazy:
Meditation. I use a meditation app by Russell Simmons, yeah as in Def Jam Records Russell Simmons. It’s called Meditation Made Simple. Hey, don’t knock it until you try it! I meditate for 10 minutes at a time. Instead of watching the news this morning, I meditated instead. The concept is easy, but actually doing it can be hard. The key is to be still, focus on your mantra and keep at it for 10 whole minutes. Try it.
Breathing exercises. Slowing your breathing can be helpful. Breathe in for 7 counts. Hold for 1-3 seconds. Breathe out for 7 counts. I got on facebook for a second and had to practice my breathing after I logged off.
Yoga. I’ve talked about my love for yoga before, but it really is a great way to relieve stress, let go of your fears and embrace the now. Sometimes I just do a downward dog for a few minutes or try some twists and stretches to move my thoughts from the past and future to focus on the moment, focus on the now.
Laugh. Yeah, it’s that easy. Just laugh. It decreases stress hormones and triggers the release of endorphins. Instead of listening to the radio on my way into work this morning, I listened to a funny podcast.
Go outside. Be one with nature. Hug a tree. Look at a tree. Listen to the birds. Watch the squirrels. Smell the grass. Walk by the lake. I took Pete on a walk this morning and yeah, I was exhausted, but there’s something really calming about knowing that even though my thoughts are stressful, the birds still sing, the leaves still fall and the sun still shines.