A note from Hannah (11/17/2023)
Sometimes life is hard. And that’s ok. In this season of my life I’ve been tapping in more to my stress reduction toolbox and I thought I would share some of the things that help me, in hopes that it can help you too. The adventure inside my head is a wild, fun, exhilarating ride, but that also means it’s very hard for me to unplug and quieten my thoughts.
Here are my top 5 stress-reducing activities, not in any particular order:
(1) Just breathe. The most natural thing can become the most challenging for me when I am under a lot of stress. Being aware of my breath helps to bring me back to my feet. I like to do a little box breathing. (Join Eric or Anjali for a Breathwork class on Ompractice to learn more)
(2) Take a hot bath & read a book or listen to music. Redirecting is vital for me and water is my happy place so being able to escape into an alternate world feels very freeing. (Join Reggie for a Sound Bowls class on Ompractice for an auditory treat).
(3) Go outside.☀️ Weather (see what I did there) it’s cold outside or a warm Spring day, I love the feel of fresh air on my face and dare I say, the grass on my toes. It’s completely free too to take yourself on a new outdoor adventure.
(4) Make a list. I looovveee a good list and a good checkmark. ✔️ If I have clutter in my mind or racing thoughts I take a step back and write it down. This helps me get the things out of my mind and then I am not fretting about forgetting to do something. Plus, when you check something off, it just feels good. Some days are tougher than others, so feel free to plug in a “get out of bed” or “take a shower” for a feel good checkmark on your day.
(5) Pet your best friend. 🐶 For me, my little fur baby is a great source of joy and peace. She helps me through hard times and is a constant mitigator for stressors in my life. If you’re not a pet person, I am very tactile. Cuddle up with a soft blanket or grab your favorite “cozy” object from around the house.
I hope this helps! We would love to hear what you do to help de-stress.