The Best Ways To Ground Yourself During Stressful Moments
November 30, 2016
By Brian Maynor
Stress and the holidays go hand-in-hand, and it’s not just when you’re around family.
Work continues to be a serious source of stress, even during the holidays. While some people experience a tapering off of responsibilities over the next few weeks others feel the pressure of end-of-year deadlines and unattained goals.
No matter what causes you stress, anchoring is one way to alleviate it that is guaranteed and super easy. Anchoring is when we bring our focus out of our minds and back to our bodies paying attention to the tension, pain, pleasure or other sensation we’re feeling instead of avoiding or dismissing it. The surprising result of doing this is that it immediately brings us back to the present moment. Our minds often spin out of control rehashing the past or rehearsing the future, especially in times of stress, so grounding ourselves in our bodies is the best way to counter that process.
When we neglect the physical world for our mental one, we actually cause ourselves more harm than good, i.e. more stress and suffering. So the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed try these three easy ways of grounding yourself that will snap you back to reality in a good way:
1. Take one intentional breath. Since breathing is autonomic we often take it for granted, but when we take a single, intentional breath our perspective instantly changes. By focusing on one breath we give stop all of the internal dialogue giving our brain a moment to regulate the fight or flight syndrome and our mind a chance to objectively assess our reaction to the situation.
2. Acknowledge everything you’re feeling. Emotions are messy, and we often think that by ignoring them we prevent their influence, but nothing could be further from the truth. Suppressing emotions are the surefire way to let them control you, literally, but when we acknowledge our emotions; even those perceived as negative, we remain in control. The reason is because acknowledgment allows us to process the feelings and release them instead of simply reacting to them.
3. Relish in the simple pleasures. Human nature notices pain more than pleasure, but with practice and intention you can focus on the joy of simple pleasures like taking the first sip of a cup of coffee, or hearing your favorite song on the radio. Other joyous moments that often go unnoticed are standing and stretching after sitting at your desk awhile, eating when you’re actually hungry or even laughing. Every day there are countless moments of joy worthy of celebrating that we simply overlook or take for granted.
You don’t need elaborate meditation practices or escapism techniques to counter stress. All you need is your body and a single intentional moment to bring yourself back into it.
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I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace. Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.
About Brian Maynor
Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.
