Does the Rona Have You Stressing?
5 tips for keeping yourself sane and stress free
With so much going on right now, it's important to remember self care. A lot of things are changing, and our day to day activities are no longer routine. We are all adjusting.
Aside from the sad situation that's happening in the World, being at home this much has been great for me. I now have the opportunity to get more aligned with myself, and being consistent is key. Below are 5 things I do on a daily basis to keep organized, stress free, relaxed and disciplined.
STRETCH
I cannot stress this enough! Stretching in the morning leaves for a rejuvenating day! You are more energized and flowy. When you stretch in the morning, you give your body the chance to loosen up and eliminate aches and pains. No one wants an achy body throughout the day; you'll be feeling fatigued and exhausted before you have done any real work. As we get older, our bodies become less flexible which can lead to more injury. Not only will stretching in the morning help with flexibility, it also increases blood flow, improves your posture, and provides greater amounts of energy (1). I personally, follow Robert Yee of Gaia for all of my yoga routines. Lately, I have been using Rodney Yee's Yoga for Energy & Stress Relief. The DVD has 5 different practices and the longest one is about 20 minutes. Perfect for a quick morning stretch.
MEDITATE
Meditating is a long work in progress. It will not be perfected overnight so give yourself time on this one.
“A lot of people have this idea that meditation means sitting down and doing nothing,” says Madhav Goyal. “But that’s not true. Meditation is an active training of the mind to increase awareness, and different meditation programs approach this in different ways.” (3)
Meditating consistently can improve concentration, mindfulness, and helps with lowering depression. The important thing is to keep trying and being consistent. I meditate for 2-10 minutes daily, sometimes several times a day. I would suggest starting with low times and increasing as you feel comfortable. Meditating right after a yoga stretch will leave you extremely relaxed. I actually prefer not to do this after my morning stretch because it will put me back to sleep lol. I meditate in the middle of the day after I feel I have been working vigorously- this brings me back to center and aware of my surroundings. I also meditate in the evening, after a shower and a lather up of Deli's Lavender Body Butter and I have the best sleep ever!
EAT LESS MEAT
Now, I am NOT going to throw veganism and vegetarianism down yalls throats lol BUT there should be a balance in what you eat. Most things in life are all about moderation, and food definitely falls in that category. A lot of people eat meat in every meal 😱! How sway? I will not get too much into that but I will say 🗣 YOU DO NOT NEED to eat meat for breakfast! (I no longer eat the swine but I will never deny how beautiful bacon and sausage are lol 🤷🏾♀️!) But all that meat just gives you the itis, especially eating it in the morning. Try eating fruits and grains with your eggs. This is a more balanced breakfast that will give you more energy throughout the day. This morning, I ate ½ baked sweet potato, ½ avocado, and a hand full of strawberries. I also had a cup of tea.
READ
Read anything. Whether it's a few articles on your phone, a book, a magazine, READ. Keep your mind stimulated! A 2009 study done by the University of Sussex suggested stress can be reduced by up to 69% from reading (5). Reading a novel in particular, allows your mind to wander into a alternate reality with no anxiety or stress. I am currently reading part II of Tomi Adeyemi's YE fantasy trilogy, Legacy of Orisha, Children of Virtue and Vengeance and it is amazing! (Click here for Part I) The books are about the Orisha, West Africa, magic, strength, family and so much more. It's a really great read.
LAVENDER
Lavender is amazing. My next blog will go into more details about lavender but I wanted to add it here because it is an awesome stress reliever. Lavender not only reduces stress, it also helps with anxiety, inflammation (which can make you feel fatigue) and relaxation. Inhaling lavender also increases the alpha power of EEG which lowers anxiety and brings you to a better spirit.(6) I noticed I wasn't sleeping the greatest so I started using Deli's Lavender Body Butter after my evening shower. It definitely helped ease my mind and allow for better sleep. You can purchase here. Meditate in the bed after you rub this on for better results.
Working each of these into your new daily routine will definitely help with adjusting to everything that is going on. It has helped me tremendously; I'm more focused, I'm happy, and motivated. Gaia's Hands is not only about skin care and what we put on our bodies, but it is also about what we put in our belly's and the thoughts that go through our minds. Lets grow together.
https://www.livestrong.com/article/430886-what-are-the-benefits-of-stretching-in-the-morning/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/a-flexible-way-to-stretch
https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2015/02/09/7-ways-meditation-can-
actually-change-the-brain/#29d051211465
https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/food-comas-or-why-eating-sometimes-makes-you-sleepy/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/5070874/Reading-can-help-reduce-stress.html