Will Slowing Down Help Relieve Stress?

If it will help to relieve stress if you slow down, what are some methods you might use to slow down?  Slowing down doesn’t only mean internally, it also means externally as well.

Uh, Oh, one way to slow down is to cut back on the caffeine.  That morning cup of joe can blow little things all our of proportion.  Most energy drinks are high in caffeine too so it might be a good idea to switch to yuck decaf.  But if you want to slow things down a little in your life, ya gotta do what ya gotta do!

How about writing down everything you have on your mind in a list.  Once you have this done you will find that your thoughts slow down since you are no longer thinking about things at random.

Build time into your life to relax.  Do something for YOU.  Go sit in the jacuzzi (nice to have one, isn’t it?) or take time out for a massage and maybe you can sit in a stream room for a while.  You might even consider getting a hotel room for an evening so you can sit in the jacuzzi and the steam room to relax.  Find a hotel with these ameneties and check in for an evening.  But put it on your calendar so you have it scheduled.

Breath SLOWLY.  Make a concious effort to take slow, deep breaths.  This not only slows your breathing, it also slows your heartbeat and your endless thoughts because you are concentrating on your breathing.  This is something you can do at any time, nothing external is required.  Just do it!

Schedule some meditation into your life and get in touch with your higher power.  This can be as short or as long as you desicre but you should put it on your calendar as well.  Make it a daily habit and you will find you are invigorated and refreshed.

Make a list of everything in your life for which you are grateful and carry it with you.  Whenever you find yourself running ragged, pull out your grateful list and go over it.  When you focus on that for which you are grateful you slow down internally and have time to collect your thoughts as well.

Be aware that you have limitations.  Your are not a superhero so go easy on yourself and don’t expect too much of yourself.  Be gentle and remind yourself of this when things spiral out of control.

Do any of these suggestions sound like they will help relieve the stress in your life?

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