Can't Meditate? Here are 9 Other Ways to Break Free From
Stress
I know! Meditation
is the secret sauce to take your wellness up to the status of the elite gurus.
It’s the “be all, end all” for the health of your entire mind-body-spirit. It’s
the absolute must-do that is the only path to beating the infamous
health-buster called “stress.”
Don't get me wrong;
practicing meditation is an excellent approach to optimizing your health and
overall well-being. Meditation is great for relieving and dealing with stress,
and all of the issues that come along with it. But it's not the only way to get
there.
The whole purpose
of meditating is to calm the mind and emotions and relax our physical body too.
And there is always more than one way to get there.
Let’s talk about
some of the other things to try if meditation is not exactly your thing.
Journaling
Spending some time
every day writing out your thoughts can help to relieve stress. You can use
journaling to list the things you're grateful for, this is known as gratitude
journaling. You can use it as a "brain dump" to get all of your
thoughts and ideas out of your head to soothe your mind. You can use "ever
since" journaling to describe your life after you reach your goals.
Reading
It’s one thing to
read to learn something that you have to learn, or to advance your knowledge.
And, you can also read for pure pleasure. To get caught up in a story and just
relax.
Coloring
Adult coloring
books are all the rage! Not *that* kind of adult, but coloring pages with lots
of detail and tiny areas to color in. Something that can take you hours. You
can always opt for something simple, like kids coloring pages too. The idea is
the same. Repeated movements and focusing on the art you’re creating can help
to clear your mind.
Knitting or
crocheting (or other crafts)
Knitting,
crocheting or other yarn activities are a great way to de-stress; this is a
skill that comes in all levels from beginner to advanced. You can choose a
quick little rectangular scarf to make, or a detailed sweater. You can choose
the pattern, size, and yarn. Once you get into the flow of these skills,
they're great to do when you're feeling stressed. Not only can they relax your
mind to focus on your work, but you can end up warming yourself or others with
the products you create.
Gentle exercise
Gently moving your
body is another great way to de-stress. Activities that are slower and less
intensive are ideal. Things like walking, yoga, stretching, or tai chi can all
be great ways to relax your mind and improve your strength and balance at the
same time.
Sleep in or take
a nap
A common cause of
increased stress hormones is lack of sleep. Too little sleep and too much
stress go hand-in-hand. So, getting enough good quality sleep is important to
help you break free from stress without having to meditate.
Pamper yourself
Maybe you love
getting massages or mani/pedi's? Maybe you love a long bath or lighting
candles? Perhaps you can add your favorite relaxing music to the mix for a
pampering evening? Spending some time to pamper yourself regularly is great for
your mind, body, and spirit.
Spend time in
nature
You don’t have to
head away for vacation to relax in nature. While a calm beautiful beach or
cabin in the woods may be amazing, you don’t have to go that far. Even spending
time on the grass at your local park or playground, or walking on a wooded
trail in your neighborhood can do the trick.
Make time for
people and pets you love
It's so important
to spend time with family, friends, and pets whom you love. New research is
coming out about the health issues related to loneliness. Reach out and plan to
hang out with your besties, or even offer to take your neighbor's dog for a
walk in the park.
Conclusion
Stress reduction is
the goal. How you do it, be it meditation or otherwise, is not that important.
What’s important is that you find what works for you.
Try journaling,
reading, coloring, knitting/crocheting, gentle exercise, sleep, pampering
yourself, spending time in nature, and making time for people and pets you
love.
Have other great
ideas? Let me know what helps you de-stress in the comments below.
Recipe
(calming): Lavender Essential Oil
Instructions to
inhale directly
Add up to 6 drops
of undiluted essential oil to a handkerchief/tissue and inhale occasionally.
Use up to 3 times per day.
Instruction for
steam inhalation
Add 3 - 12 drops of
undiluted essential oil to a bowl of steaming water. Inhale slowly and deeply
for 5 - 10 minutes. Use up to 3 times per day.
Tip:
Lavender isn't the only calming essential oil. You can also use angelica,
balsam, benzoin, bitter orange, cedarwood, celery, chamomile, cornmint, cumin,
curry, frankincense, grapefruit, jasmine, juniper, labdanum, laurel, lemongrass,
marjoram, nutmeg, palmarosa, parsley, patchouli, peppermint, rose, rosewood,
sage, sandalwood, scotch pine, spearmint, star anise, sweet basil, sweet
orange, thyme, or ylang ylang.
Dedicated To Your Success,
Dr. John Heary, DC, CFT, SFN, PFTS, MMACC, CUSC, CCFT
Certified Fitness Trainer
Certified Specialist in Fitness Nutrition
Certified Physique and Figure Trainer Specialist
Certified Mixed Martial Arts Conditioning Coach
Certified Underground Strength Coach
Certified Fitranx Instructor
Certified TRX Instructor
Certified Corporate Fitness Trainer
Certified Spartan SGX Coach
Certified Weightlifting Performance Coach
(716) 545-4090
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