By Angela Adams
We have all been there. We are stuck in traffic; the kids aren’t cooperating: the dog had a potty problem all over the house…and we are now LATE. We are stressed out, angry, weepy, and/or any other combination of emotions
because we were supposed to be in at an appointment by a certain time and now we aren’t going to make it!
Now, we all know that not everything is preventable, but there are some things we can do to make them less likely to happen. Take traffic for example. Leaving five to ten minutes earlier than you had originally planned can help prevent you getting caught in traffic. Perhaps watching/listening to the traffic report on your way to your appointment so you will know what’s ahead of you on the roadways.
However, none of that matter now, you are still running late for your appointment, what do you do? Well for starters CALL YOUR APPOINTMENT! This is just a common courtesy and it also lets them know not to book over you or leave because they think you aren’t coming. Now that you have informed your appointment, just take a deep breath and try and relax.
The following are some ways you can help relax and defeat stress right on the spot. Caution! Some of these techniques should not be practiced if YOU are the one driving to the appointment.
1.) Meditate – This does not mean you need to sit cross legged on the floor and start saying “omm”. Simply repeating any action that helps keep your attention calmly in the present moment is considered meditation.
2.) Picture Yourself Relaxed – Pretty self-explanatory, just taking a moment to picture in your head that you are somewhere peaceful and relaxing.
3.) Breathe Deeply – Take slow deep breathes in through your nose and slowly back out of your mouth. Doing these exercises several times will increase the amount of oxygen coursing through your body and will bring down your heart rate and blood pressure.
4.) Observe Your Surroundings – Observe the peaceful things around you,
such as birds chirping or the peaceful sound of wind blowing through the trees.
5.) Drink Hot Tea – Not everyone likes hot tea but it’s the same principle as drinking a glass of warm milk. The warmth is actually what is soothing and relaxing.
6.) Spread the Love – Snuggle with your pet or give your friends or family members a big hug!
7.) Time-Out – Sometimes we just need to take ourselves out of the equation for a little while so that we can view what is happening from a different perspective.
8.) Contract and Relax – Contract and relax your muscles, this can kind of trick your body into letting the stress go. You can contract and relax the muscles in your face or even grip the steering wheel as tight as you can and then relax.
The next time you are faced with a stressful situation just remember these few simple steps and if you come up with any other helpful ways let us know!
I love your idea of just taking a deep breath. A lot of times when I start to get stressed, just taking a few deep breaths can calm me down and help me deal with the situation on hand.
Thanks Ross! Good advice. I like how relaxed I feel after practicing the breathing technique you mentioned.
That means so much to us! Thanks for telling your experience, Brigitte!
The deep breathing is essential for me, because I grew up in a “smoking” environment, lost my dad to COPD, emphysema and now watching my brother go down the same path. Some think deep breathing is just a shallow breath, in and out, but need to be taught the “REAL” deep breathing. When I am tense, I have to mentally think if I am relaxing from head to toe. Usually not! especially in traffic. Thank you for the reminder. If I do any massages, I have them take some deep breaths. So Breathe………!!! Getting upset does not change your problem. And, if you feel you have no friends, BE ONE
Excellent. Thanks for the feedback, Vicki!
Unexpected hugs are the best ones and until it’s given to you, you didn’t really realize that you needed it. I don’t mind giving out free random hugs…but hygiene comes first.
These are great ideas. There is no better way to ruin my day then for me to start off by being late. I just hate it.
I love just sitting quietly and concentrating on nothing but my breath. It is very relaxing and clears my mind so I can think about the situation more clearly. And random hugs are the best!
I need to do this more often, which is all of it. Most people that know me know my stress, so maybe with this I can be destressed….I hope.
I never thought about stopping and breathing at times that i’m getting really stressed out. It seems like a good practice.
These are exactly what I do when I get stressed. I hate when I get stressed to easily over little things. I step back, breathe, and remind myself this stress will not matter in a year, so just take it easy.
I think you wrote this blog just for me! I usually do not have a problem being late, but when I am stressed,it shows in my face. I feel like I need a constant reminder to relax my face especially when driving! Driving is a stressful matter all in itself. I like to practice deep breathing before bed but don’t think to do it any other time throughout the day. I agree with you, Lauriel. Hugs are the best. 🙂 Thanks for the blog!
I agree that taking yourself out of the present situation and going somewhere in your head is a very good way to calm down. I like to practice breathing as well. I get so stressed out that I forget to take deep breathes that seem to calm me down immediately.
I fully understand this article. I am always stressed driving to work or school in the morning and the only way I can calm down is to take deep breaths.
Breathing is a great relaxer – just like meditation! Thank you so much for these suggestions!
Very welcome!
I think this is a very helpful blog. I use the breathing deep method ALOT!! The advice on the hug makes perfect sense as to why I yearn for a hug on a regular basis… I love hugs they are very helpful when stressed!