Easy Ways to Calm Down Quickly
By Sandy Schroeder
Very few of us completely escape stress, and most of us are tempted to fight back with soothing glasses of wine or a really big pizza, but there are better ways.
Bewell.com walks us through some quick and simple solutions to calm down quickly.
Breathe deeply wherever you are – You may be at your desk, in the car with your kids, or on a flight for work, but abdominal breathing can lower stress.
- Sit in a relaxed position
- Put your hands on your stomach
- Close your mouth and touch the tongue to the roof of the mouth as you breathe through your nose
- Draw a deep breath feeling your stomach expand
- Then feel the stomach fall as you let your breath out
- Empty the lungs and repeat as you relax
Learn how to do tapping– Tapping is an acupressure technique called Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), which is a simple tapping of the hand, eyebrow, collarbone, etc., to release stressful thoughts. To learn how to tap, check videos such as Emotional Freedom Technique Informational video by Jessica Ortner
Soothe yourself with tunes – Music can go to work immediately when your body tenses. Slip on the headphones and sit quietly as you listen to tunes that comfort you, or choose sounds like a bubbling brook or gentle waves. Absorb the sounds and let the stress go.
Let motion ease the tension – Just stepping outside for a brisk walk, or taking a run after work, can erase a lot of stress. If you are a yoga person, close the door and run through the yoga poses that relax you the most such as cow, cat, and downward dog. Keep looking for the best ways to actively ease your stress. Running, biking, stretching, weight lifting, or swimming can all fill the bill if it works for you. However you are comfortable moving can be a quick direct way to siphon off stress.
Take a few minutes to meditate – Meditation can be as simple as sitting quietly, listening to your breath, and repeating a simple phrase. Or you can try mindfulness meditation which lets you consider your thoughts without judging them as you sit quietly and watch them stream by. Find the meditation that works for you and use it whenever you need it to quickly let go of stress.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Windermere,
Fla.