With much stress, pleading, threats and exasperation, you managed to get the kids to school just about on time. You’ve made it through the daily commute without screaming (out loud….too much!). Now you’re sitting at your desk, contemplating your day ahead.
You’re exhausted already, and you know that things are just going to get worse. When you switch that computer on, it begins. You’re already feeling guilty for the way you left the kids, already feeling like you’re detaching from the work you have to do, already know you will spend time this evening feeling guilty about not being as effective today as you think you should be.
Isn’t life supposed to be more than a never ending cycle of guilt, stress and exhaustion?
Yes. It absolutely is. You can make it be so. And you can start right now.
Pin this to your relaxation board to refer to later
Breathe the stress away
Before you go into the office, switch your laptop on, or open your emails, stop.
Close your eyes.
Take a deep breath.
Feel the breath going down deep into your lungs, focus all your attention on that breath, feel your body taking it all in, then let it go completely. Take your time over this breath. Keep your attention entirely focused on it.
You don’t have to worry about anything else. Not the emails, not the meeting with the boss, not the office gossip, the traffic, the stress of the school run, none of it matters right now.
That is all in the past or the future. All that matters right now is that one breath.
After you’ve taken one deep breath, and let it go, take another. Focus completely on that breath, nothing else matters, just that breath. Keep your thoughts coming back to that breath. Savour it, feel it, really experience it.
Now one more. Again, all that exists in the world right now is you and your breath. Enjoy this moment. Really be in this moment.
So far, you have taken 3 deep breaths, and I bet you already feel better don’t you?
Let’s deepen that feeling………
Be thankful
Grab a piece of paper and write down three things you are grateful for right now.
It can be anything at all, it doesn’t matter how big or small.
It can be the fact that you made it to work. Maybe you will rejoice in the fact that you have clean clothes to wear. The sun might be shining. It might be raining, watering the plants in your garden. You may have a fantastic cup of tea in your mug. You might have enjoyed breakfast. Maybe you saw something that made you laugh.
It really doesn’t matter what the reason for gratitude, all that matters is that you feel it. If you have more than three things, don’t stop at three. Stop when you run out of things, the more the merrier!
It only takes a minute
This needs only take a minute or two in total, to do the breathing and the gratitude list. You probably spend longer fretting and stressing. I know I do. It takes hardly any time, and the benefits you will get from this could last you all day!
You can do this whenever you feel overwhelmed, guilty, stressed or any other negative feeling. If you don’t have paper to hand, you can list things in your head, or using a notes app on your phone. You can take the breaths with your eyes open if closing them isn’t possible. It still works.
The Five Minute Breath
I know that spending just 5 minutes a day sitting with your breath can offer you fantastic benefits and help you find peace in the rest of the day. In the 10 day ‘Five Minute Breath Challenge‘ I will guide you through a simple daily practice you can begin to bring into your life for peace and relaxation. Register your details below and see what difference just 5 minutes a day can make.
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