Can I, do I, should I are all thoughts that can whirl around our minds during a busy day when we don’t get enough time to stop and take a moment. A recent survey by RESCUE discovered that during a busy day 34% of people rarely stop to take a moment to help comfort themselves and gather their thoughts. While 42% wish they were more composed during a busy day.
Each and every day brings a number of choices, but what happens when confusion kicks in? In a world where worries, doubts, restlessness and hectic schedules have become a normal part of our day, how do we shift our minds from a ‘survive’ to ‘thrive’ mentality?
When your mind is calm, you think more clearly. With the pressures of our modern, fast-paced lifestyles, people often find themselves overwhelmed and confused.
Neil Shah from the Stress Management Society and Sally Wisbey, Nutritionist have come up with some tips to help give you feel cool, calm and collected so you can see the pros and cons of the situation:
- Time out: taking mini breaks when you feel overwhelmed to enable you to remove yourself from the situation. Going outside for some fresh air, if possible, would be ideal as oxygen will help regain clarity and concentration.
- Bellows Breath: Another way of getting blood and oxygen moving around the body and up to the brain is by practicing a simple breathing technique:
o Stand up straight in a comfortable position with your feet hip distance apart.
o Before starting the breathing have a look around the room; focus on the colour, sound, energy and how you feel.
o Inhale through the nose and raise arms out sideways. The diaphragm descends and belly pumps out as you do.
o Exhale through the mouth and bend arms in to ribs. We will be repeating this 30 times. 10 x slow, 10 x medium and 10 x fast.
o Take time to look around the room again. What changes do you notice?
What you eat and drink can also have a big impact on your mind and body so it’s important to be mindful about your diet and ensure you are eating the right foods. Nutritionist Sally Wisbey has these tips to help keep you feeling calm and relaxed:
- Avoid processed and fast foods, fizzy drinks, caffeine and foods containing gluten, dairy and sugar as they strain the body.
- Eat slowly and take time to enjoy your food! Many of us lead such busy lifestyles we eat on the go, walking, standing up or at our desks which can all put pressure on the digestive system. Take time out to sit down, away from work and be mindful about what you are eating, chewing your food thoroughly.
- Instead of reaching for that sugary snack when you’re busy, stick the kettle on and make a cup of chamomile tea, know to have a calming effect.
- It’s hard to believe that some chocolate is actually good for us! Rich in magnesium, dark chocolate helps relax the nervous system and make us feel calm. Snack on 1-2 squares of dark chocolate during the afternoon.
- Take a moment out and pop a soothing RESCUE® Pastille into your mouth. RESCUE Pastilles provide a moment of calm and contain a combination of five Bach™ Original Flower Essences – Star of Bethlehem, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose and Cherry Plum.
RESCUE® is available from Boots, Holland & Barrett, independent pharmacies and health food stores, grocery stores nationwide and online.