Self-Care: Finding Calm Amidst the Chaos
You know what you should be doing to look after yourself. Sleep well, eat well, move well. Take some time out just for yourself. But it all seems too hard. Just another thing on your ever lengthening to-do list. And quite frankly, just the thought of having to fit in a daily mindfulness practice has you palpitating. It’s all too much.
But there’s a reason why ‘self-care’ is a buzz word. When you look after yourself, your anxiety levels go down. You feel calmer, more in control, able to enjoy your life again. And you’re better equipped to deal with daily obstacles.
So how to solve this conundrum? Actually, there are lots of simple, quick, and easy-to-implement techniques that won’t overwhelm you. Rather than adding to your laundry list of things to do, they’ll create some space for you to just breathe and be.
One such technique is Heart Breathing, which you can practice in the evening before going to sleep, or when you wake up at night, thoughts racing. Here’s how to do it – it only takes a few minutes, and is totally worth it:
Heart Breathing Exercise
Get Comfortable: Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Place both hands on your heart and gently tap for a few moments with the hand that is closest to your body. Switch hands and repeat.
Breathe In: Close your eyes and take a deep breath in through your nose, letting your abdomen rise. Visualise breathing through your heart. Hold for a few moments.
… and Out: As you exhale slowly, visualise the breath leaving your body through your heart.
Focus on Your Heart: Continue to breathe slowly and deeply through your heart. With each in-breath imagine fresh energy, and calm entering your body. You can visualise this as a coloured light. With each out-breath, imagine all that stale energy and tension leaving your body through the heart region.
Come back: When you feel that you have finished this process, imagine sealing the heart energy back into your body. Imagine all that beautiful energy healing you on all levels, and thank yourself for taking the time to look after yourself. Gently bring your attention back into the room and into the present moment. Welcome back. 😊
If you like the idea of putting on your oxygen mask, and taking control of your well-being, but would like some support in implementing this, Health- and Wellness Coaching might be for you. Contact me now to find out more – I’m looking forward to connecting with you!
