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Mindfulness and Stress Blog
The constant hustle and bustle of day to day life can leave us craving a bit of peace and quiet. But it’s important to remember that this doesn’t just apply to us adults, it can apply to children too. School can be a busy, stressful environment for many children, which can be very difficult to leave at the doorstep. Therefore, we are going to teach you a few different ways to manage that stress, and to make sure that you get that inner peace you deserve.
Tip 1. Control your breathing
We know this seems very straightforward… Breathing isn’t something that we have to remind ourselves to do (thank goodness) however controlling your breathing is a whole different story! By simply learning a few breathing techniques you can dramatically decrease your stress, lower your heart rate and also lower your blood pressure. There are many tutorials and tips that you can follow, but we recommend the 4-7-8 method! Simply breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7 seconds, exhale through your mouth for 8 seconds, and repeat! This can be done for any length of time, until that stress has left your body. Give it a go!
Tip 2. Complete a mindfulness based task
Coloring, drawing, yoga, going for a walk or even meditation are fantastic mindfulness practice activities! They’re fun, can be interactive, and certainly involve an element of concentration. All of these have their own personal benefits, and we try to dedicate time to do a small amount every day to support our mindfulness journey. We even teach our children how to unwind! Take a look below at some examples.
Tip 3. Listen to your body
This might be one of our most important tips for controlling stress and becoming more mindful. The more you know about who you are, and what overwhelms you, can make the world of difference to managing your emotions. Personally, for me, it’s a busy shopping centre that can make me feel overwhelmed. Too much going on can be a recipe for a disaster. So when I’m beginning to feel like things are a bit too much, removing myself and listening to my body is my “go to” way to reduce that stress. Be mindful of what your feelings are telling you, and respond in any way you can.
Tip 4. Be kind to yourself
This relates to the above tip. Learning to treat yourself kindly is something that we all struggle to do from time to time. Struggling to complete your “mindfulness yoga” of the day? Can’t focus on your breathing? Too busy to listen to your body? That’s okay! Everyone has moments of self doubt, weakness, and letting your emotions get the better of you, so just being kind to yourself and letting yourself ‘feel’ can be really important for mindfulness.
Tip 5. Talk to someone
Our final tip for the day is probably one of the most important ones. If you feel like the mindfulness techniques aren’t helping with that weight on your shoulders? Talk to someone.
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