De-Stress in a Pinch

This past week was pretty stressful for me.  I didn’t really realize it so much in the midst of it, but by the end of the week, I was done.  Fried.  Stressed out!

I had a first aid class that was in the evenings for four days, right after work.  This meant wolfing down my dinner in the car on the way to class.  I was getting up and exercising in the mornings, and then going directly to work.  I also had to read the first aid book before my last class.  We also put our house up for sale last week, and I got my moon time.  By Friday, I was way behind on my sleep, and I was becoming very sensitive to every little percieved slight.  And most of them were all in my head.

Because I was out late at my class, and then reading the text book when I got home, my meditation practice got shoved to the side.  This definitely did not help my mental state! So on Saturday, when I had an event to run after work, I was not at my best.  I was irritated that I had to make dinner, AND pack the vehicle for the event, BY MYSELF, AND clean up the kitchen, AND… well, you get the idea.  My mind was running away on the “poor me, I have to do everything myself, and no one helps or appreciates me” track to misery.  All of this is completely untrue, yet this was the tape that was playing in my mind.

Thankfully, my husband drove to the event.  I could tell I was not in the right frame of mind to lead this event, which was about spiritual growth.  So I closed my eyes, and breathed slowly and deeply.  I dropped out of my mind, and into my center.  I observed my mind playing the tape, and I let the emotions flow.  Yes, I cried. I meditated the whole way to the event.

I’d like to say that by the end of the 15 minute drive I was all better.  There was still a little residue and sensitivity there.  But I was now the one in control (not my mind and some outdated program), and the frustration was flowing out of me.  By the time I had everything set up, and everyone had a chance to chat for a while, I was fully in my center, in the moment, and ready to facilitate the event.

Meditation is a wonderful tool for de-stressing.  You can do it anywhere, and within a relatively short amount of time.  Of course, getting enough sleep, exercise, or a relaxing bubble bath help, too!

What’s your favorite method of de-stressing?

Blessings,

Mary