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Here's a
stress reduction opportunity that is simple and
discrete. All you need is a shop window and enough time to
take three breaths. If you're rushing about trying to get
all that shopping done, it's very easy to get totally caught
up in the task in hand, thinking about what you need to do
next, where you need to be, what you've forgotten to do, or
should do next. So much stuff rattling around in our system
it's easy to get carried away, infected with urgency. It can
be very relaxing just to slow down for a few moments.
The first step is actually the hardest: realise that
you're rushing around! If you're rushing it's very easy not
to notice.
The second step is find a convenient shop window, stand
in front of it, and pretend to look at something
particularly interesting.
The third step is take three natural breaths, noticing
the flow of the breath in and out of your system. No need to
think, plan or remember things, just notice the breath
coming and going three times. Just noticing can be quite
calming, it can also be quite difficult, the flywheel of the
mind just want's to keep spinning.
That's all there is to it, no-one will notice, you're
just looking in a shop window. It only takes a few moments
to recollect yourself, and you can do this as many times as
you like during the course of the day.
Bonus points: If you like a real
challenge and find yourself on an escalator, just be aware
of your breathing whilst you're travelling between floors.
It's a little longer than three breaths, but you get that
much more benefit. |
