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. A few simple stress-relieving techniques to help you 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.
Press stress away: Research shows acupressure can reduce stress by 40%. Test it out and get some fast relief by massaging 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….” says Dr. Lucia Capacchione, author of Visioning: Ten Steps to Designing the Life of Your Dreams. It’s in this relaxed, receptive mood that most people tend to come up with their best ideas. The key: Draw one circle on top of the other in a continuous motion; keep sketching until you feel calm.
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? A Stanford University study says reminding yourself about what makes you special boosts your self-confidence, which lifts your mood.
So let’s all stay calm and creative—and write on!
- All these soothing tips come to us via Woman’s World magazine.
Great tips. Expressive writing is something that can help reduce stress as well as journaling. They are not the same. Thanks Karin
HI Terrie,
Thanks so much for sharing this! I’m going to look into the difference between Expressive Writing and Journaling! Stay tuned!
Write on!
Karin