Breaking the tension

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Breaking the tension

Monday, 27 September 2021 | ModMonk Anshul

Breaking the tension

ModMonk Anshul suggests 10 ultimate stress-management techniques everyone can apply in life

Stress has entered the dictionary of a commoner and almost everyone goes through it. Our minds have been wired in a way that we are always looking for stress. It is strange and you will notice that it does not feel significant or complete if you do not feel stressed about the job at hand. These can be pseudo stresses — self-created ones.

However, we cannot discount the fact that stress does exist, it is real and tedious for many to handle. Having said that, it needs to be dealt with in a manner that completely removes its roots from our minds, but the process and time of releasing and making oneself stress-free will undoubtedly be different for different individuals.

In the fast-paced and frantic world we live in, a lot is going on, and there is only so much a mind can articulate and make sense of at a time. This can leave us stressed, exhausted, and overworked more often than we can imagine; emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. But there are ways by which one can learn how to cope and rise above it.

Below are some quick methods that will aid your mental and spiritual healing, helping you cope with stress and reduce it — use them and notice the changes over time.

Step back, take a helicopter view

Breathe, and just step back for a while. Look at your life from a broader perspective every now and then, notice the path and what are the important milestones and aspects of your life. This will help you eliminate the unwanted stresses you feel are important or consuming you. It just might not be of any importance in the bigger picture of your life.

Identify the trigger/pattern

This is an essential thing one should do regularly, be aware and mindful of your mental and emotional patterns. Notice what triggers you and how you react - emotionally and mentally. How do your thoughts change? Knowing your stressors can help you manage your stress. Identifying the things that cause stress in your life can help you avoid potentially stressful situations and how you react to them when you face them in the future.

Correct your sleep clock

If you have not slept well or enough, you will be irritable, and every small thing can start affecting you and make you snap. Over time, you would have collected many such small experiences that will lead to a more significant issue, resulting in stress. Try going to bed by 10:30 pm and wake up by 6 am. It might sound very school-like, but it is the best for your mental, emotional and spiritual growth. Get the right room temperature, bed, pillow and blanket. It is essential to be comfortable; your mind is processing information and helping your body heal when you sleep.

Body scanning

Practise the technique of ‘body scanning’. This helps you release stress instantaneously. All you need to do is close your eyes and start noticing your body from the tip of your toes to the top of your head slowly. While you do this, you will notice any energy or part of your body that feels strained or uneasy. Breathe in and out through that part as you consciously release tension from that area. The process will hardly take three to five minutes of your time.

Sea salt and apple cider vinegar bath

This is miraculous. When you stress, even though it is your mind, your muscles get tightened and sore. The cells hold on to tension more than you mind. Sea salt in a tub (or a bucket) will help you pull the negativity out and release your muscle-stress. You can add essential oils and aromas, but make sure the water is a little warm.

Eat clean food

Look what you are eating on an everyday basis — you are what you eat, and it is true. The energy in your food is running through your veins and makes you feel the same frequency the food was in before you ate it. So eat good, freshly cooked satvic wholesome meals, you can also announce gratitude towards it before you eat it to make it even more satvic and good for your body and eventually for your mind, reducing stress over some time.

Practise mindfulness

We have been harping over the buzzword ‘meditation’ for a while now. Still, it is true that being in the state of meditation calms your nerves down not just spontaneously, but also for a long time. It will help you organise thoughts, feelings, and emotions and give you the capacity to deal with them constructively. Being mindful will help you be in the present moment, without comparison, helping you live the current moment to the fullest.

Take a break

If you can currently take a small vacation to some scenic place where you can connect back with nature, perfect. Take it! If you cannot, you can still take a break for a day or two just being mentally in a happy state, not worrying and taking some time off for yourself and enjoying the moment. Take a break to reconnect with yourself.

Stretch it out

Exercise and workout at least thrice a week. It is not only necessary to maintain good health but also an extremely healthy way to manage stress. Pump up the adrenaline. You will feel happier and confident as a person, too.

What's your hobby?

It is noted that when you do what you love, you get so immersed in it that it does the same work that meditation does for your mind and body. When you have a hobby and consciously cultivate and nurture it in daily life, it helps you express your feelings, channel your emotions and aids you in getting clarity of thought, all resulting in mental peace and calm. It can be as simple as solving jigsaw puzzles, painting, reading, lying down, and listening to music. If you do not have any hobbies, try getting one.

Use these tips to see the change in your being, not just mentally but spiritually, too. Remember the art of dealing and coping with the stresses of life is a lifestyle change and the healing journey is not a pill that you can gulp. Remind yourself that all the anxieties you have collected might not vanish away in a snap. But, be rest assured they will fade in time and have to, as long as you take small steps towards a happy and peaceful you.

Even a little progress is progress, after all.

(The author is a psychologist, spiritual coach and the founder of SoulSchool business.)

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