As we continue focusing on Stress Awareness Month we wanted to share some tools which we’ve found really helpful in addressing areas of stress or wellbeing. These tools aren’t meant to solve everything but can become part of your toolkit to help you when life is challenging. Try them out and if you like them, use them. If you don’t then forget about them.
Why not try them and see what you think. There’ll be three more we’re sharing on Thursday.
The Stress Container
This is a wonderful tool we learnt from our friends at Mental Health First Aid UK.
Stress is a normal part of life and sometimes the question is how we manage stress, not how we remove it…In this simple exercise fill up the container part of the picture with all the things that are causing you stress at the moment. Then around the tap, think of things you do or take part in that release stress. How can you make time for the tap to be turned on so the container is emptied?
Stress management is sometimes about making time for those activities that enable us to release stress - maybe walking, listening to music, painting, talking with family, cooking or simply being still? What relieves stress for you?
Download our version of the Stress Container
Breathing Exercises
There’s been a lot written about Breathing exercises and their effectiveness. The reality is that they work for some people and not for others. Use them as part of a tool kit but don’t rely on them too much.
There are lots of different models and formats for Breathing exercises. We’ve found the key is to create something which enables you to be present and able to connect with the moment you’re in now, not worrying about the past or the future.
Sit comfortably, sit with you head upright and in a loose, relaxed posture.
Take a slow breath through your nose. Imagine sucking in physical air particles.
Exhale slowly through your mouth. Imagine blowing a feather gently across a room.
Hold for a moment before repeating steps 2 and 3.
Story Spheres
This is a beautiful tool I first learnt from my therapist. The concept is simple, draw a circle or use the one to download below. Inside the circle doodle, write, draw or scribble your emotions at a particular moment. Let it all out in any non-verbal way you can. Then either keep the picture or recycle it, but knowing this bounded circle holds your response to a situation and you can leave it there for a while.
I’ve found Story Sphere’s are wonderful at capturing the frustration, stress or elation of a moment. I keep them in a notebook and know that the book is a collection of moments I’ve been able to express rather than surpress or deny.