Self Nurturing and De-Stressing into 2018...

(**Thank you to Organixx.com for the following information)

The relaxation response can only kick in when a person feels safe, supported, and balanced.

To get here, you must learn the tools that will become a part of your everyday life.

Here are a few quick, easy tips you can use when you are in the “thick of it” as well as a few techniques to cultivate the relaxation response over time:

#1: EFT. EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique and is also known as “tapping.” Tapping has been shown to drastically reduce stress responses in a very short amount of time. It is a form of kinesthetic and verbal stress management that calms the stress responses by “tapping” on key meridian points along the face and chest.

#2: Breath Many studies have shown that deep breathing can calm the nervous system within minutes. Think about the last time you were really stressed out. Was your breathing shallow or long and slow? Were you holding your breath without realizing it? Simply taking a few minutes to consciously breathe (slowly and calmly) tells your body that you are safe and all is well.

#3: Drink Some Water. Dehydration can be part of the vicious cycle that occurs with chronic stress. While not drinking enough water can exacerbate stress signals, being in “chronic stress” mode can also lead to dehydration, say experts.

#4: Let Essential Oils Help You. Lavender, peppermint, and frankincense are all amazingly effective essential oils that have been proven to help relieve stress. Lavender can help calm the nervous system. Peppermint can stimulate balanced energy, especially if rubbed on the temples or the back of the neck using a carrier oil like jojoba. Finally, frankincense can help to lower inflammation as well as help you to “center.”

#5: Take a Walk. Getting your body moving even just a little at least once a day can help keep your stress responses down and help to level out your mood. A study at Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, found that regular exercise helped even out depression and fatigue for participants after just one week.

#6: Stick to Your Budget. Making a budget and sticking to it can be a great practice for calming financial stress which, according to the Health Line study, is the leading cause of overall holiday stress. While you may have overspent during the holidays, take some time now to ensure your 2018 budget is realistic for you.

#7: Practice Visualization. Visualization is a meditative practice in which you actively imagine the outcome, situation and, most importantly, the feeling you want to experience. It might sound a bit woo-woo but evidence-based research around visualization says that it works when done correctly.

Give yourself the gift of self-nurturing and healing this year by purposely engaging in activities that can help your body turn on the relaxation response instead of the stress response.

Moving into the new year with tools to use for stress and taking even better care of myself,

Colleen :-)