Project 20|20 – Week 7: 3 Tips for a Better Day
Life Happens
We all have our ups and downs. Happiness is temporary, and we need to adjust our expectations day-by-day to what it is and can be.
Last week, I published a 30-day challenge to help to start something new that can bring to light a sense of fulfillment and joy.
Science has proven that when we ‘check’ a box in our to-do list, happiness hormones kick in, and we feel better. But what if we are having a bad day and can’t get anything started?
As per what I wrote in my last blog Are You Unstoppable?, sometimes we need to stop before hitting start. What I mean by that is by resetting ourselves when feeling overwhelmed, we can adjust our mindset and continue our journey in the right direction.
Our thoughts are energy, and life will turn into the direction we want it to. It all begins with our thoughts.
Instead of working on something for 30 consecutive days, if you feel you need an extra break for some TLC, this blog is for you. Some simple tools can be leveraged to reconnect to our inner selves, and are on arm reach no matter where we are.
It Takes Just One Minute
One of the best cleansings we can do to our bodies and mind are breathing. If we connect with our breath for one minute, it will calm down our heartbeat, make us feel grounded, and increase our ability to concentrate. Yes, it takes just one minute.
If you are ready to spend 5 minutes and want to align, that will a simple yoga pose called Corpse Pose or Savasana*, even better. Savasana is a restorative pose not just for yogis and can be at home, on your bed. A great time to do it is just before going to sleep.
Let me walk you through the steps.
- Get in a comfortable pose, standing up, sitting, or lying down. For Shavasana, you need to lay down on the floor, mat, or bed, facing up, legs open about a couple of feet, as well as the arms. Set a timer for 1 or 5 min, so you don’t need to look at the clock.
- Put your left hand on your upper belly, and your right one on your lower abdomen.
- Start breathing with your nose, and pay attention to the air coming inside your throat, and moving through your torso. Breathe in counting slowly until 4, hold your breath for 2 seconds, release counting until 6 seconds, hold your breath for 2 seconds. Repeat for the length of time you set.
That’s all.
We can disconnect from the outer world by concentrating on the sensation and noise of the air coming inside and outside our throats.
By paying attention to the movement of the belly expanding and deflating, we will calm down. If your thoughts go somewhere else, go back to your breathing.
Need some TLC ideas? Check below. We all do need it some times, and nurturing ourselves is one critical medication to wellbeing.
Happiness is an inside job. No one can do it for us.
How are you going to show love for yourself?
Yours truly,
Hope
1 Like*Savasana is a great yoga pose to calm the body and mind, reduce fatigue, lower blood pressure, relieve headache pain, and improve sleep.
