by Autumn Lewis
Have you been stressed or on edge lately? Are you looking for new ways to center yourself during, before or after highly stressful situations? Here are three techniques that can be used to counteract stress and fearful focus in almost any situation:
Tension Release
First, place yourself in a comfortable position, whether it’s sitting or lying down. Next, relax your body by closing your eyes, dropping your shoulders, unclenching your jaw, and begin to breathe slowly. Scan your whole body, seeking out any tension, and release it through each breath. Do this for as long as it takes to release all the tension.
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Grounding Exercise
This exercise can be performed in any position that you’d prefer. Take a look at your surroundings. Say out loud 5 things you can see. 4 things you can touch. 3 things you can hear. 2 things you can smell. And 1 thing you can taste. This should bring you to a state that allows you to shift your focus from the stressful situation you may be in.
Vent Journaling
Grab a notebook, journal, loose leaf sheet of paper, or even your phone and journal for 10 minutes freely, without censoring yourself. Write down all your current thoughts and feelings, and whatever else may come to mind. Remember, you don’t have to say anything in particular, just write whatever comes to mind. This is a way to vent without interruption and judgement.
The next time you feel anxious or tension mounting, consider using one or two of these techniques to make the stress go away.
