This present is yours for the taking. It’s a simple gift. Why don’t you open it and receive the benefits of stress relief, peace, serenity, and healing?

Sometimes, simple is best.

Stress (or more accurately, how to relieve it) is a favorite research topic of mine. I’ve read dozens of books, written books and articles, and taught workshops on the subject.

Sharing ways to relieve stress really gets me going.  

But, despite the fact that Amazon features nearly 85,000 books on the subject, stress management doesn’t have to be all that complicated.

Here’s the most important thing you need to know:

Stress happens naturally.

Stress-relief does not.

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I’m going to try and feel stressed out today.” Or, “I really should be stressed more often.”

Of course you wouldn’t!

Getting stressed is usually an unintentional process. But getting unstressed takes intention. We have to DO something to get out of stress. We have to put thought into it and plan, take action, and practice new behaviors.

To Relieve Stress, Start Here

Wondering where to begin?

Take a deep breath and read on.

Here are a few simple techniques to try. (And, you’ve already done one of them!)

• Deep breathing
• Stretching (shoulder rolls are great!)
• Sipping water, tea, or your favorite green juice
• Laughing
• Inhaling mood-boosting and healing scents (essential oils are great!)
• Reflecting for a moment on your current physical surroundings
• Aligning (improving) your posture
• Keeping a gratitude journal

Trigger This, Not That

Do you know why these techniques work to relieve stress?

These easy practices cause us to break an unhealthy pattern. They trigger the parasympathetic nervous system to engage and get to work (the relaxation response).

For a moment in time, at least, we’re not ruminating about the past, or worrying about the future. We’re simply aware of the here and now.

By shifting our focus away from either the past or future, we halt the stress triggers to the brain. When worries, fear, and anxiety are present, our brain sends out the signal to generate stress hormones, cortisol and adrenaline.

For obvious reasons, it’s important to break this pattern as often as possible. And, in a way, it’s as simple as choosing to accept present as a gift.

Mindfulness. The present moment.

Unwrap one simple moment in time for #Stress relief. Click To Tweet

To initiate stress relief, unwrap one simple moment in time.

The Present as a Gift  

Here’s a great quote from a family physician who has made the study of stress reduction his business:

“Each time you mindfully let go of thoughts about how life should be,

and enjoy life as it is, you change your brain.”[1]

– Dr. Jay Winner

For more articles on stress and chronic illness (there’s even such a thing as good stress!) check out this Feeling Stressed Out article.  

Can you give and share this gift of stress relief today?

[1] https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/stress-remedy/200810/the-challenge-living-in-the-present