Mindfulness

Take Deep Breaths

One of the best tools we have for calming down is to bring attention to our breathing. By taking slow and deep breaths, we can help our muscles relax and reset the parts of our brain that become stimulated when upset. When we are able to relax and reset, we are able to express ourselves more clearly and make better decisions.

Tense and Relax Your Muscles

Sometimes stress builds up quickly and in settings where all you have time to do is a quick stretch of your neck and shoulders, clench and unclench your fists, and take a few deep breaths.

If you have more time, find an appropriate place to practice a progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). PMR has you focus on tensing and relaxing different muscle groups at a time to help you relax your body and draw your attention away from your thoughts.

Ground Yourself

Stress can activate our brains to go into overdrive and have us hyper focus on the negative or challenging thoughts that perpetuate stress. Grounding techniques may help distract you from what you’re experiencing and refocus on what’s happening in the present moment.