If there is one thing that most of us have in common these days, it is stress. We may differ on the source, duration, and type, but as a society, we are programmed to be stressed.
How we deal with stress is very individual. While some people may benefit from meditation, others may find meditation incredibly stressful in and of itself. My friends dad recently took a mediation class. When his teacher asked how he enjoyed it, he responded “I found a colonoscopy less stressful”. Clearly mediation is not for him!
So what does one do?
The key is to find what works for YOU. Just as with health coaching where we create a personalized route to your health goals, the same goes for reducing stress. To mitigate stress, we need to move from the sympathetic to the parasympathetic nervous system, and that requires quieting the mind. For some a breathing exercise might work, for others it is not that clear cut. However, what they have found is that getting into a “flow” takes you out of your head and into the present moment.
For some flow can be reached through simple every day activities such as drawing, dancing, cooking, walking etc. The key is to find what puts you into a flow. When are you able to completely disconnect? When does your mind quiet? When do you lose track of time?
Don't beat yourself up if you can't sit and breathe. Find something that you enjoy.
Curious how getting into Flow can benefit your health goals? Schedule complimentary wellness consultation. You will leave with knowledge about yourself and tiny habit to get you where you want to be.