5 Minute Meditation

For those of us practicing mindfulness, it can be difficult to set aside a large chunk of time in the day for prayer or meditation. I find it necessary to carve out an hour to center myself in God's presence. However, while I'm in my stressful school and work environments, I may not be able to find that calming time to relax. This breathing exercise is an incredible way to de-stress, even for 5 minutes. After you calm your breathing, you will be more alert and able to focus fully on the task at hand. Try this exercise once every hour today. I think you'll be amazed at how it changes your outlook on a stressful situation...I know it has for me!

Infographic from this link

How do you quiet your busy mind when you're at school or work?

Mindfulness

The last CAM therapy I want to talk about (from Tessa Graf's presentation at Aperion) is mindfulness. This therapy can include meditation, prayer, counseling, and even just being present and aware of the good and the bad in your life. It includes acknowledging and not ignoring that I might not be okay and that I need to have focused time to relax and be alone. I am a lover of Jesus Christ so I pray often as a part of my relationship with Him. God is my constant and my refuge when circumstances and relationships change. I know I can always run to Him when I feel like I can't handle what I'm going through.

Graf says the people who will benefit from this the most are those who live in a fast-paced society (all of us) or who have chronic pain as a result from stress. It is so beneficial to set aside time to be quiet and reflect on your life and things you hope for. You have to individually choose to practice one of these techniques, but I promise you will see results in your decreased stress levels if you are consistent.

Picture from this link

How are you mindful? Do you pray or meditate in the morning?

Why You Can Make Art and Get Massages for Stress Relief

This weekend was the Apeiron research presentation day at my university. At this event, students present research or practicums they have completed over the year for other students, faculty, and community members. Tessa Graf, a psychology student, completed research over Complementary and Alternative Medical Therapies (CAM) for stress reduction and I was so intrigued by what she discovered.

Did you know 43% of adults feel like they aren't managing their stress, and 54% of college students report feeling overwhelming anxiety? You could use pills and medicines to reduce these ailments, but for those of us who are hesitant to try or who have tried and not been successful with pills, there are alternative therapies that could prove to be more successful than the pharmaceutical route.

In the next few blog posts, I will be outlining the therapies Graf researched. I think it is so important to look seriously at alternative therapies because many of them are free! Below is a list of alternative therapies to research for yourself...it might be worth it!

• Stress and relaxation techniques
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Acupuncture
• Kava
• Homeopathic or naturopathic medicine
• Dietary supplements or herbal products
• Massage therapy
• Art, music, or dance therapy
• Meditation, prayer, or pastoral counseling, including mindfulness
• Bioelectromagnetic therapies

*This list was adapted from a post by the American Anxiety and Depression Association of America