Fight Stress with Mindfulness

Fight Stress with Mindfulness

The following is a message from our insurance provider to help combat stress with mindfulness: 


How to Boost Relaxation with Mindfulness

Does stress ever get the best of you? We all tend to feel frazzled some days, especially during the hectic holiday season.

 

Since too much stress can be hard on the body and mind, it’s important to find ways to feel comfort and joy. One way that can help: practicing mindfulness.

 

Simply put, mindfulness involves being present in the moment and conscious of your sensations, thoughts and feelings, according to the American Psychological Association. Mindfulness may help counter stress by helping us achieve a state of relaxation, in which the mind and body are calm.

 

For anyone wanting to give mindfulness a try, here are some ways to get started:

  • Practice slow breathing. While seated or lying down, gently rest one hand on your stomach. Slowly breathe in through your nose and out your mouth, feeling your stomach rise and fall beneath your hand until you feel relaxed.
  • Progressively relax your muscles. Starting with your feet and moving to your shoulder, tense and then relax one muscle group at a time. Notice how good it feels to release the tension. Be aware of the sensations in your body too. Imagine your breath flowing to your feet, knees, arms and so on.
  • Take a mental vacation. Visualize a scene (real or imagined) that makes you feel calm. Maybe that’s a favorite vacation beach or a mountain lake.
  • Engage in mindful exercise. Take a short walk or bike ride, focusing on the rhythm of your movements and the scenes around you.


  1.  Using mindfulness for mental healthnks to an external site 
  2. The benefits of mindfulnessLinks to an external site., 
  3. Five ways to be mindful for optimal healthLinks to an external site.
  4. Mindfulness exercises to reduce stress or anxietyLinks to an external site.


Other Resources for Health and Wellness:

  1. First Stop Health's Virtual Counseling Benefit
  2. Understanding Mental Health and Wellness: Resources and Further Help
  3. Meditation and Breathing
  4. What is Wellness? And What Makes You Well?
  5. How to Improve your Self Awareness and Emotional Intelligence

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