How to avoid taking on more stress to get more done

When you start taking on more in your life, do you also take on more stress?

With deadlines & new input coming in,  you can get a lot done by tensing up and going for it.  The tension can magnify your ability to move quickly and be efficient.

The problem is that chronic tension not a sustainable state in your body or mind.  More mistakes are made and many other challenges can pop up because of the sustained stress.

There is a way to have less stress, be steady & still go for it, especially with a challenging circumstance.

To do this requires an effort to train your mind and your body to be more at ease, as you work.

One simple tool that you can use throughout the day, is to bring your attention to your breath. Here is a practice that you can do, to enhance your ability to be steady in your body and mind amid challenging circumstances and be productive.

Schedule at least 1 minute per day for this practice. Find a quiet space or time of day when you can turn off your phone and other screens. Place your attention on your breath. Follow your breath with your attention, as it flows in and as it flows out. Breathe into the diaphragm or lower ribcage. You can put your hands on your lower ribs, below the breastbone to feel that area. Feel how it expands like a balloon, as you breathe in and retracts as you breathe out.

 If you get distracted, simply bring your mind back to your task of paying attention to your breath.

If your mind needs more to focus on, you can count 4-6 seconds for your inhale and 6-8 seconds on the exhale. your body has a super-intelligence built in to your physiology. That intelligence within you, knows to relax, when you are giving it this rhythm, of letting the exhale become longer than the inhale.

The more you place your attention on your breath in the lower ribcage area of your body, the more you can regulate your nervous system and train your mind to relax and focus.

Repetition of this practice will build your skill at being more aware of your body so that you can focus your attention, relax, reduce stress and be steadier inside yourself.

Being steady in the face of challenge, deadlines and daily stress, makes you stronger and more resilient.  You can get more done by being steady instead of using tension to make things happen.

Steadiness is a learnable skill and you can learn it! If you would like assistance to develop this skill, I’m here to help! Contact me, for more information or a complimentary intro call.