2020 was undeniably a challenging year for everyone. With the pandemic forcing everyone to stay at home and without an outlet to release stress and anxiety, everything became harder.
Many people lost their jobs, lost their loved ones, and lost some hobbies - there have been many kinds of losses, big and small. Now, here comes a new year, but the anxieties from last year continue.
But if you really think about it, life can be very stressful in general no matter what year it is. With so many obligations to take care of, from work to family and yourself, maintaining that balance to handle everything can just be tiring.
Your mind and body need to release that stress so you can function better. That’s why today we are writing about the three best ways to calm your nerves and release all the negative energy you have inside you.
Breathe
Have you noticed how when someone is having an anxiety attack, the first thing people usually say is to “breathe”? This is because breathing and stress management has always been related. But why is this so?
Anxiety and stress cause irregular and shallow breathing. This is why you become dizzy, confused, parts of your body are numb, and your breath feels short. However, by doing deep and long breaths, you encourage better airflow, and your focus is shifted to the rise and fall of your stomach.
It is beneficial to learn some breathing techniques or exercises such as:
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4-7-8 Breathing: Start by exhaling completely through your mouth, letting out a soft sound. Then, close your lips and inhale through your nose while counting to four. Hold your breath for seven seconds. And exhale from your mouth for eight seconds.
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Roll Breathing: Start by breathing in silently through your nose and exhaling (with a whooshing sound) through your mouth. Repeat continuously until you get the rhythm. You can also start by placing your hand in your belly to feel its rise and fall.
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Alternate Nostril Breathing: Start by lifting your hand up to your nose and exhale completely. Using your right thumb, close your right nostril. Then inhale through your left nostril and close it with another finger. Open the right nostril and exhale. Then inhale here, close it, and exhale to the left. Repeat the cycle and do this for 5 minutes.
While doing these, it’s also helpful to close your eyes and visualize the calm version of yourself. Let your body relax, concentrate on your breathing, and release all the anxiety and anger every time you breathe out.
Some activities you could try that really encourage effective breathing are meditation and yoga. So, if you have extra time to spend, it’s something worth trying. The best part about these activities is that it doesn’t just relax your mind, but also your body.
If you’re feeling any tension in your shoulders and neck, breathing helps put you back at ease. It also helps in making sure that your posture doesn’t suffer due to what you’re feeling.
Change Your Focus
If you’re getting stressed because of a job task you can’t finish or because of an argument, try to shift your focus to something different, even just for a couple of minutes. This will help greatly in freshening up your mind.
Just think about positive things for a while. Here are some things you can try:
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Listen to music: Set aside negative vibes, grab your headphones, and drown your mind in beautiful music first. It’s also nice if you have a go-to playlist that you’ve customized just to calm yourself.
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Get some fresh air: Now, normally, you might want to walk around the neighborhood, but if your area is still on lockdown, that may not be possible. So, try to open up your window or step out on your patio and breathe in some fresh air.
By simply removing yourself from the environment where the stress is centered, your office space, for example, will help you calm down. On top of that, you get to see something different that may bring some positive vibes to you.
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Write it down: Writing your thoughts out in a journal helps release that stress and anxiety. It’s a great outlet, especially if you have no one to talk to about what you’re going through at the moment.
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Have a centering object: If you’re bothered by your thoughts, assign an item that you can touch or hug when you’re experiencing anxiety. This can be your stuffed animal, your locket, a ball, anything that you think you can connect with and trigger you to calm down.
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Fuel your body: Sometimes, you might just be too tired or hungry to stay calm. So, grab something to eat or to drink to fuel your body and give it some energy. Because honestly, being stressed and anxious can be tiring.
Don’t limit yourself only to these suggestions. If you want to try other ways to shift your focus on something else, do so. After all, we each have different ways of coping up.
Identify Pressure Points
Finally, identify your pressure points to help yourself calm down.
Our body has many pressure points, which is why going for a massage or acupuncture feels nice because they release tension from those pressure points. However, not everyone has the time to go out, especially during this time. So, it will really help if you know where your pressure points are.
For anxiety, there are mainly six pressure points you need to know:
- Third eye: Between your eyebrows
- Ear: Upper shell of your ear
- Shoulders: Shoulder muscle
- Hand: Between thumb and index finger
- Feet: Three fingers wide below the intersection of your big tow and second toe
- Wrist: Three fingers wide below your wrist
As you can see, there are different pressure points all over your body. Just pinching these areas and massaging them repeatedly every 5-10 seconds can give you relief.
So, the next time you feel stressed and anxious, release some pressure in these areas. It’s something you should try. What makes this activity nicer is that it also allows you to practice your breathing while massaging yourself.
Final Say
Breathe, change your focus, and identify your pressure points. These are three great ways you can calm your nerves.
However, if you want better results, it’s highly recommended to add Neuro Calm and Clarity Mints over these techniques. Designed to give your body the building blocks it needs to regulate your mood, ease your tension, and add focus, this product helps you find that balance. It helps you function well every day, even with all the stress triggers around you.
Take full control of your life. Each and everyone has different ways to cope with everyday problems. But whatever problems it may be, starting your day right is always the key - so why not start it with Neuro Calm and Clarity Mints?
Hero Image by Eli DeFaria on Unsplash
