Surviving the Festivities! Tip 11

Breathing is Good for You!

If you feel yourself getting a little het up or stressed, try out this very quick tension reliever:

1) Sit down

2) Close your eyes

3) Breathe out one longer breath than normal (count during a normal out breath then make this one a few counts longer- but don’t hyperventilate or make yourelf feel uncomfortable. that would be totally missing the point….)!

4) Breathe normally for a few breaths. Enjoy the sensation of resting your eyes.

5) Breathe out a longer breath again. This is having the effect of helping you take more air into your lungs and breathe more deeply without over breathing.

6) Repeat this twice more. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes.

7) Carry on as normal, but hopefully a little more refreshed!

Take a Brain Break!

This is an exercise I use in my Renewyou programme. It’s a very quick relaxer which will give your brain a quick rest and energise you. Use it when you are really busy and see it’s effect. It only takes about a minute and a half.

Sit Comfortably & Relax

1) De-focus or close your eyes (it is better if you can actually close your eyes as it slows the brainwaves more).

2) Take a slow, deep, breath in ensuring that you expand the lower abdomen first (put your hand down on your stomach to feel it expanding first, it takes practice).

3) Hold just for a moment. Make sure it’s comfortable for you. Stop if you feel at all uncomfortable and just breathe normally.

4) Slowly exhale and as you do, consciously relax the muscles around your neck and shoulders.

5) Breathe normally for a few breaths, continuing to relax the muscles on each out breath.
(This phase of normal breathing stops you hyperventilating by inhaling too much oxygen too quickly).

6) Take another slow, deep, lower lung breath in, ensuring that you expand the lower abdomen first.

7) Hold for a moment or two, as long as is comfortable for you.

8) Slowly exhale and as you do, consciously relax the muscles around your jaw and mouth.

9) Breathe normally for a few breaths, continuing to relax the muscles on the outward phase of each breath.

10) Take another slow, deep lower lung breath in, as before.

11) Hold for a moment or two. Remember to take care of yourself and only do what feels right for you.

12) Slowly exhale and, as you do, consciously relax the muscles around the eyes, eyebrows, cheeks and forehead.

13) Breathe normally, continuing to relax the muscles around the body on each outward breath.

14) Return gently to full alertness. (You can count yourself out of this relaxed state by slowly counting from 1 to 5 as you gradually bring yourself back to a state of alertness. Do this slowly, stretching your fingers and toes if you can.

I suggest you now have a glass of water and see how much more refreshed you feel!

Do it Often

This seems complicated but in essence is just three deep lower lung breaths interspersed with normal breaths done with eyes closed or de-focussed. Practice it often, ideally several times every day. Always start by breathing out first so you don’t take too deep a breath initially and use any techniques you may have been taught specific to your needs.

Tips for Surviving Christmas!

• Rule number one, there are no rules! What ‘rules’ or traditions have you invented over the years and are they still relevant to your Christmases today? It may be that you are giving yourself unnecessary stress and work, so just take a moment to think if you have to do it the way you have always done.
• Lower your expectations immediately. No one is perfect and your Christmas gathering won’t be either. Almost every magazine on sale during December will have a feature telling you how to have the perfect Christmas. Read them for interest but regard them as works of fiction! Your celebrations are unique and should be what works for you.
• If you have a house full of relatives expect the worst and plan for it. If Uncle Bernard always gets drunk it’s no use fantasising that he’ll turn teetotal  just while he’s at your house. He won’t. Likewise with family members who usually don’t get on well together. They still won’t so plan for it and expect it. Everyone cramped in one hot room for hours on end is a sure fire way to provoke a few arguments so make sure you have an activity like a walk for those who need to get out for a while. Read the rest of this entry