—8 Simple Ways to Slow Down & Restore Balance—
Walk
Solo-style in a forest or other natural area—barefoot.
Clear your mind, and connect your body and being to the Earth; deeply breathe in the surrounding air.
Turn off electronics
Electromagnetic fields do their part to create feelings of imbalance within our minds and bodies. Turning off lights, computers, radios and switching your phone to airplane mode for long stretches during each day (and night) gives your body a break from constantly trying to find balance against these frequencies.
Focus on yourself
Release the notion that you always need to be focused on household, family and/or work-related matters. Feel good taking a yoga class, watching a movie, scheduling a massage, or losing yourself in a good book.
Say no
If you feel exhausted, learn to turn down social engagements and/or other events and requests.
Take a break from social media
Social media sites are an amazing and easy way to stay up-to-date and connected with friends and family. There are so many wonderful and beautiful friends who many of us, amidst our packed days, might rarely connect with otherwise. Perusing through posts and daily on-goings, however, can take up a large chunk of time and places some of us in front of the computer for lengthy stretches each day. Occasionally forgoing computer time and opting for face-to-face connections and/or other enjoyable activities can help us feel more balanced and present.
Sleep soundly
Allowing our physical bodies to take a break, clean up, recalibrate and repair is essential to good health.
Write
Working out thoughts on screen or paper can be a really effective way to organize and/or release mental chatter. Writing offers up a way to take conscientious time to think about how we’re feeling, what we’re wanting and envisioning and move it from (maybe constant) mind play to a more tangible space, which can be easily accessed later.
Breathe deeply
Make time to sit still and to focus on deep, belly breathing. Breathing deeply eases all areas of our body and being into a tranquil and present space. The far-reaching benefits of managing stress in this way are phenomenal.
(om yoga & lifestyle; april issue; 2014)