A relaxed mind is a creative mind.” Yogi tea bag tag

We all know that stress can short-circuit our creative drive and leave us feeling drained. Even though Spring is coming, we’ve all been through a lot. A few simple stress-ending tips to help us stay calm and focused:*

Pick a word: Reciting a word out loud that makes you feel relaxed — like “peace” or “calm” — for three minutes while picturing the word in your head can have a soothing effect. Hearing the same word over and over tends to lull you into a meditative state. Focusing on a single word also helps ease your worries and lifts your mood.

Chew crunchy snacks: Carrots and celery contain tryptophan, which the body converts into calming serotonin. Biting into something crunchy also helps relax tense jaw muscles.

Consider journaling: Scrivening saps stress! Jotting down your thoughts on a regular basis offers proven benefits: it improves memory, lowers blood pressure, boosts your immune system, and zaps stress. When you’re upset and worried or unable to concentrate, try jotting down a few qualities you admire about yourself — being a good friend and working hard at your writing, for example. People who did this for two weeks reported feeling more upbeat and less irritated by daily events. Why? According to a study from Stanford University and Chinese University of Hong Kong, reminding yourself about what
makes you special boost your self-confidence, which lifts your mood.

Press stress away: Researchers say that acupressure can reduce stress by 40%. If you want to test out their claim and get some fast relief, massage the fleshy area between your thumb and index finger for 20 to 30 seconds.

Draw Circles: “The rhythmic motion you create when you sketch continuous circles or figure 8’s stimulates calming brain waves, helping you feel more relaxed and less constrained, which in turn increases your creativity and openness to new ideas…. It’s the constant rhythm that puts you in an almost meditative state,” says Dr. Lucia Capacchione, the author of Visioning: Ten Steps to Designing the Life of Your Dreams. It’s in this relaxed mood that most people tend to come up with their best ideas. The key: Draw one circle on top of other in a continuous motion; keep sketching until you start to feel calm.

So let’s all stay cool and calm — and write on!

• All these soothing tips come to us via Woman’s World magazine.

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