Month: October 2016
Calming Down the Fight or Flight (or Flee) Response
This week I thought we might practice calming down the stress in our lives. There is plenty of scary stuff happening in our world and maybe not enough reminders to slow down, breathe deeply, move mindfully and ask for support. Ahhhh… Causes of Stress The flight or fight response in the body is an automatic function designed to help us survive when we are in danger. When every day experiences keep firing the stress response our immune system is impacted, which can lead to fatigue, insomnia, depression and illness. I believe that we always have a choice about how we respond to life. As we move into the fall and winter months, give yourself permission to slow down, nurture yourself with comforting activities and release anything that pulls you off of your center. Activating the Relaxation Response
- Mindfulness of your breath throughout the day
- Meditation, yoga, tai chi, qi gong practice
- Walking, swimming, biking or other exercises
- Asking for support from family and friends
- Tapping while focusing on stressful circumstances
Action: Choose one practice or activity that feels really good to you. Continue for several weeks and see how much calmer and rested you feel. Be patient and gentle with yourself. Ahhhh… Here’s a link to more information for those of you who are interested in the full scoop on this topic: http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response This article from Harvard Health also includes terrific information about how to calm the Fight or Flight response and activate the Relaxation Response. Yay!
Restful Sleep & Sweet Dreams
- Are you having trouble sleeping sufficiently?
- Is lack of sleep effecting your quality of life?
- Does grumpiness get in the way of your JOY?
bedtime “rituals”; take a bath, meditate, do some easy stretches or yoga — anything that lets the stress and chaos of the day melt away.
b. Allow yourself 15 – 20 minutes to fall asleep.
c. If not asleep within 15 – 20 minutes, get out of bed, go to another room, and engage in a calming activity (such as reading) until you feel sleepy.
d. Repeat steps 1 – 3 as often as necessary.
e. Get up at the same time each morning, even if you had a difficult night.