3 Quick Ways to Destress

 I don't talk about this very often, but one of the things that I love doing is speaking to groups of women. 

I had the opportunity to do this a couple of weeks ago. And this particular group of women. We're just super high achieving detail oriented. Smart. Of course, you guys are all really smart. I do know that, but they just were like this type a personality. 

In that speech, I offered five non gym ways that they could improve their health. 

A few of the suggestions I provided also had the intention of de-stressing or down shifting. We are in an amped up state. If you are listening to this real time, it is the holiday season and it is just, everything is just a little. More. You know, there's just, there's more everywhere. There's, I've got more decorations in my house. 

I have more things on the calendar. I have more projects that I am trying to get done before the holiday season. And everything is just more.  We need to take the time to downshift, to de stress today in this mini episode, I wanted to offer you three quick ways to de-stress. And these will take less than one minute. 



That's because they are all the same thing in different environments. 

And that is breathing specifically taking three deep breaths through your belly. And out your nose or out your mouth. And just pausing for just a second to try to de-stress. I wanted to give you three different ways that you could do that today, that will fit into whatever you are doing. The first is to take three deep breaths before you eat your food. Especially if you have a rushed lunch. 

I know I do. Sometimes I'm trying to eat lunch really quickly before I go off to do the next thing. I know a lot of you, if you are at work and you're eating lunch at your desk and you're just eating to not be hungry anymore. If we can take just a second and take three deep breaths before we eat, then believe it or not, that will help us absorb the nutrients better than if we eat when we're in a stressed out state. This is one of the things I learned from at least new Selous. This way back.



In season 13, episode 11, the episode was titled rewrite your food story to change the way you eat, think, and live. 

And I loved this conversation with. Elise, but that was one of the things that she was teaching us is when we are stressed out, amped up. Then we are in that fight or flight state. You probably know that. But the other thing that I didn't really ever connect until I had read an article from her, and then we had the subsequent discussion here on the show. Is the opposite of that is rest and digest. We cannot digest well. If we are in our fight or flight state, so whatever you are eating, just take a minute to do three breaths to pull yourself down.  The other example I gave to this high achieving group of women who always have something that is needed by someone in their life. 

And you were probably the same 

is to find a pocket of time when nobody is going to be bothering us. And that pocket of time is when you use the restroom.  So more than likely wherever you are. You've got the door closed. You have just a second to yourself.  Can you take three breaths? Deep and cleansing ones just again to downshift.  So that is another one. It's funny. I was telling my husband about this. He was like, that's gross. And I said, well, you have to remember that sitting on the restroom for us is different than it is for you every time. So. So, you know, if it bothers you, then, then can you find another little pocket of time, but that is a time that probably no one is bothering you. 

So let's think outside of the box, get a little unconventional here and see how we can just take ourselves down just a minute.  The other one. Is to take three breaths. With me. Right now.  I don't know what you're doing. Chances are you're driving. Maybe you're working out. If you're tootling around the house, getting dinner something. 

Can you just pause? Not if you're driving, but you can still do this. If you're driving. But can you just for a second, refocus your head and your mind to the breath that is coming in and out. So let's do that together. We're just going to take a deep breath in, fill up your belly.  

Out, let's let it out through our mouth.  

Let's do another one in.  

And out.  

One more in.  

And as you exhale, can you release the tension? Where you normally store it?  



There you go. There are your three quick ways to de-stress this holiday season and beyond. That's all for today. Go out there and have a Grace Day.