I am going to be totally honest and transparent with you. I have been feeling so crazy lately. An overall feeling of restlessness, racing thoughts, fatigue, irritability, you name it and I have probably felt it at some moment during this time. The anxiety has been off the charts. It’s everywhere, at work with the pressures to continue pre-pandemic levels of service, at home being quarantined and confined to your house, however large or small with the same people or no other people at all, with the current abysmal social climate and with the stresses of child care ( I don’t have any children but I feel for my friends who are parents).
I feel like it is almost impossible to be alive during this time and to not have experienced some kind of stress, anxiety unrest or frustration. The social climate is abysmal and there is no sight of the end nearing with the orange man, COID-VID 19 and human unrest. Whether the epidemic has left you unemployed, underemployed, over worked, under appreciated, at home self quarantined and bored out of your mind or at home schooling with your children, whatever your status is, we are all operating at a high frequency of pressure and angst.
For me personally, this pressure has become unbearable. I have come up with several different ways to relax and destress, no matter where I find myself. I’m going to share 5 de-stressors with you. We all have to take care of ourselves.
1. Nature Walk– Take a walk outside. We spend too much time sitting in front of a computer and/or tied to a phone. Walking, stretching your muscles and getting your heart rate up is a great way to calm yourself down and boost your mood at the same time. Drink up the sunlight. Getting vitamin D reduces inflammation, improves brain function, improves immunity, enhances mood and sleep, reduces cancer cell growth and reduces the risks of heart disease. Get out there and take a stroll, its a win, win situation.
2. Mindfulness/Meditation– When I am in a situation where I feel overwhelmed and I need to take a breath, and I am not able to take a walk outside the building, I go to a quiet place where I can sit down and not be disturbed. I sit in quietness, and in my quietness I try to calm my mind by slowing down my thoughts. I do this by noticing small things, like the buzzing of the air-condition, the feel of my top on the skin on my arm, the smell of coffee from the break room. You get it! The more I notice the little things around me, the more I relax and my breathing and heart rate slow down. When I come back to center, I am calmer and more grounded than before.
3. Crystals– Holding, carrying and/or wearing crystals that have calming, grounding properties like Amethyst, Rose Quartz, Hematite, Howlite, Tiger’s Eye, Smoky Quartz, Selenite, Lepidolite, or Apophyllite will help you stay relaxed and centered. I love to carry a favorite calming stone in a mini sphere shape. It is small enough to fit in my hand or in my pocket. You can meditate with it or you can just rub it during the day.
4. Essential Oils– Using essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass have a calming affect. You can use them as aroma therapy by sniffing them throughout the day, or you can place them directly on pressure points on your body. Make sure you are using a grade A essential oil on your skin. I like using peppermint oil under my nose and on my third eye, I also like using lavender under my nose and on my pulse points. It has a very soothing and calming affect on you and those around you.
If you have lava stone jewelry, you can treat it with an essential oil and wear and smell it all through the day. I have a necklace made with an assorted array of stones and for the part around my neck, I used Dalmatian Jasper and Lava Stone. I put essential oils on the lava stone and wear the necklace when I am feeling extremely stressed. My favorite is peppermint and lavender. It chills me all the way out.
5. Creative Expression – There is noting better than connecting with creative energy when you feel stressed out. It allows you to let go and immerse yourself in present moment energy, leaving you refreshed and light. These activities can include, but are not limited to painting/drawing/sketching, sculpting, photography, dancing, acting, music, writing, acting, just to name a few. Don’t be afraid to get out there and express yourself in all avenues!
