We'll be right back. We're going to talk about it because April is, what is it, stress reduction love or stress awareness love? I don't know. But in April, we're supposed to be doing some of the strengths.
Yeah, well, I think that it's, you know, spring can be a busy time. You know, a lot of things are getting kick-started. You've got kids playing sports. That's going.
We're nearing testing season in our schools. Like, it's just a lot. And the schools will be wrapping it up in about six weeks or so. Yeah, I'm not stressful, too.
There's a parent who's rambling trying to find a child here. So let's talk about dealing with some of the strengths. Okay, I think I'm really going to like this. Yeah, so we need to do this.
So we have some tips, right? We need to do this. Not only the chair, but for some practice. Yeah, we need to practice some of this stuff.
So how do we start? Well, one easy thing we can do is quick exercise. I like that you said quick. I knew you would.
Okay. I like it, too. This is not like designating 30 minutes. Okay.
This is talking about just a quick burst of energy. If you're feeling kind of jittery, stressed out, take you a couple of minutes and do an activity that gets your heart rate up. And it's going to start your body releasing those hormones that make you feel better automatically. So that this can look like standing up at your desk and marching in place for a minute.
It can look like, hey, I'm going to step outside on my break here and walk up and down the sidewalk for a couple trips. We're just trying to get like some serotonin and dopamine type of thing going. Some people may want to do 20 jumping jacks. I don't want to do that.
Or, you know, like running in place. You know, because this is short bursts of energy exercise that get your heart rate up for a minute, kind of wakes you up, and gets those healthy, those dopamine, serotonin, all that to get released and make you feel better. Okay. So we can do that.
Yeah. All right. So people like to do something with their hands. You know how those, the bubble wrap that comes in packages.
Okay. And you kind of pop all the time. It is satisfying. It is satisfying.
There are a lot of those, oh, what do you call those things? Those pop purses and pop. Yes. I don't even know what you call them right now.
It's left my head. Yes. People love to do things with their hands that really stress. Yeah.
Holding the stress balls because you can squeeze in. You know, even little kids with a Play-Doh and a slime and the, you know, they don't even realize sometimes that they are dealing with their stress. Right. When they pound a, you know, Play-Doh down on the desk and beat it, they are actually manipulating something and relieving some stress.
Yeah. I mean, I kind of do that. I catch it with stuff in my hands when I'm waiting or kind of feeling a little stress. You click your E-PIN.
Yes. I do click my E-PIN. I'm doing it right now. Yes.
You do that. You do that. So, yeah, do something with your hands and, you know, that's a good way sometimes because it's an activation of the senses and touch is one of our senses and that particular sense helps us to deal with stress. I think that's a good one.
I obviously do it. Sometimes we do it and don't know where we are. Another thing that we can do is to, what they say, point your brain at a problem. All right.
So, this is taking away your mind from running that circle and focusing it on something like a word search puzzle or a crossword puzzle or words with friends or whatever game you like to play. Do your daily word on the way to play. Keep your brain strong, but, yeah, it kind of redirects you, doesn't it? But now, as William said, we've got work to do.
And now here we are trying to do a crossword puzzle. Well, this is a quick, quick brain break. Okay. So, don't like get lost in crossword puzzles.
Okay. I'm not saying, yeah, sit at your desk all day with a crossword puzzle, but I'm saying, hey, if I'm feeling a little stressed, I can't get outside and take my walk. Let me refocus my brain on a problem that I can fix. Okay.
So, I can find all the words in this puzzle. Right. And then I'm going to feel good and I can get back to where I was. Oh, click on solitaire.
And just do one round of solitaire and you've been successful. Yes. And now I'm going to be successful over here. Exactly.
I love that thought. Exactly. Oh, I love that thought. So, you know, some people use music to relieve stress.
Oh, yeah. And when the music comes on, some people might dance. Some people might dance. And some people that does relieve stress.
Oh, my goodness. Yes. I know several people. Like, if they're home alone, they'll crank the music up.
Don't be home alone. You talk a little bit of a little other way. No. I mean, seriously, though, it can, like, music can trigger happy memories.
It can take you back to a place where you were having a good time, not the stressful place. It can just take your mind off what's going on. And if you feel like you're going to be dancing, get up and dance. If you get a little exercise we've already talked about.
But you also put on your favorite playlist. Check out for a minute. Some people get stressed out when they feel the pressure to dance. That would be me.
So, we don't want to give you extra stress. No. So, you don't have to dance. You can just listen to some music.
And I'm totally good with that. That makes you feel good. I have, most days at work, I have music in the background. It just, you know, and if I'm doing cleaning, like, let me turn some good music on.
Okay. And you don't just break out dancing. No. It just doesn't happen.
It doesn't. But I'm not opposed to it. It's just not who I am. It's near to me.
Now, my husband, on the other hand. Oh, I know. He loves to dance. Yes, yes.
But don't feel stressed. I love my bubbles. Now, I know some people go all out with the music, and they've got to have a candle burning, and they've got little bath tables now. And sometimes they have their laptop on there watching a movie, and they've got their glass of wine.
That's a little much, because I'm not going to stay that long. Yeah. But a quick soak can do it for me. Well, and you're talking about sensory earlier.
This is a sensory thing, too. That heat from the water, the feel of the bubbles, the scent, that all calms you down. It does. So, that's it.
Now, and again, you're very difficult to do. No, I want a friend over there. This is a wonderful way to release stress. I feel that for you.
It is not for me. I don't like to take baths. I'm a shower girl. But even then, that's not a stress relief for me.
But I think it's important to point that out, because everything we were talking about today is not going to speak to everybody. Like, you've got to do jumping jacks, that's just like it. Right. I'd be more likely to do 20 jumping jacks than I ain't going to turn to the bathtub.
You know? Don't bring it out there. Right. But you know what calms you down and what feels good, right?
Yeah. That's right. And a lot of people do hobbies. Yeah.
And we go back to kind of doing something with your hands, because some people do things like knitting, crocheting. And these are wonderful skills to develop, but they also help you to work out some of your stress. Yes. Because I was on meetings and things like that, and there are people that actually bring those projects, and they do this while we're sitting in meetings.
They might be crocheting something or knitting something, and they're totally engaged in what's happening. Right. But their hands are busy. It's helping with anxiety and things like that.
There's a very rhythmic thing to knitting and crocheting, and that really does help people's anxiety. Yeah, but it's helping them to sit still, you know, and focus. Right. And they're creating something.
They are. Two for one. Yeah. Now, you and I like to create in other areas, like the kitchen.
You know, if you feel great stress relief by baking or cooking, by all means, do that. I know a lot of people that find it very comforting to bake cakes and pies and breads and things like that, but definitely getting the cooking plan with recipes, like if that's something you enjoy, that's a hobby, like do that. That's going to help you release some stress because you're participating in an active activity and you're focusing on something you enjoy. This is true.
I like the thought of that. Just make sure you don't eat it yourself because you don't need to be baking all that stuff and eating it. So one thing that we really promote is stretching because you can just stop and stretch. Many times when you're stressed out, you're going to find tension in your body, and that's a good opportunity.
A lot of times for me, it's going to be in my shoulders, my upper back, and my neck. That's where I'm going to need to spend some time stretching and doing some neck rolls and shoulder rolls. You know, do that so that you can kind of, it doesn't take long at all, but just, you know, taking time to stretch in any way that feels good to you. Those of you that are familiar with yoga poses, this is your opportunity to maybe do a little bit of yoga.
Oh, yeah. You don't have to do the whole thing, but we're just talking about take 10 minutes, do a little bit of stretch. And just stretch, and you will feel the stress leave your body. Yeah, you will.
I think something that coincides with that is breathing, like consciously breathing. Again, we teach in a lot of our classes about stretch rates, breathing. Some people enjoy meditating. You know, just mentally stepping away from what you're dealing with and taking some deep breaths, like slowly inhaling and slowly exhaling, doing that belly breathing where you feel your belly with fresh air and then release it.
Sarah, we were breathing last month or something. Oh, we were jealous. We were not jealous last month. We started breathing.
Now we're stressed out, and we're breathing. Yeah, well, breathing is essential to life. No, I mean the deep belly breath. But those deep belly breaths, there's research that shows that it, again, improves your attention, your mood, and it releases those good hormones.
So sometimes you just need to step away and do some breathing. That's right. That's right. Now, I wish that this was my way of feeling stressed, but it's not.
A lot of people like to clean with this stress out. I mean, some people can get mad. They can get stressed, whatever it is, and they can clean their house from top to bottom. Do you that?
No. No, I don't. But I know what you're saying. That would be a great way to do it.
Uh-huh. And then you have, like, your whole house is clean. Yes, yes. Yeah.
No, it's definitely a physical activity. So that, again, is showing up, you know, because you're moving your body. You're going to be breathing more. And there's a sense of accomplishment when you're done.
Right. You know? So it's never a bad idea to do this. It's not.
You've got to do it anyway. So that's what we're going to do. And, you know, doodling. I thought you were doing this in meetings.
Drawing. Yeah. I think you do it, too. That's one thing we share.
Yeah, I do that, too. So, you know, doodling sometimes is a good way to do it. Some people even like adult coloring. Now, adult coloring stresses me out.
I'm going to be honest. You're like too much. Yes. It's too busy for me.
I got you. I like the childhood coloring a lot better. Well, you're not too. You don't age out of color much.
But the adult one's not too busy for me. Well, and what I like about doodling, too, it actually kind of like the knitting for some people. It helps me stay engaged. Like, I'm writing, but I'm listening.
It's better. And I comprehend more when I write things down. Also, there's no pressure on what it has to look like. Like, it's just for fun, you know?
So, that can be de-stressing in itself. Yes, definitely. And I think the very last thing that we're going to share today, the both of us can get on board with this. And it's get out of ourselves and get lost in somebody else's story.
Now, there are a couple of ways to do this. Yeah. I know your favorite way to do this. A good old-fashioned book.
You like to sit down with a book and read about another time, another place, and the person just... Uh-huh. And I want the book. I don't want my tablet.
I want a book. I don't want that you have on your device. I think it goes back to the tactile. I like to feel...
Oh, you like a sailboat? Yes, and I like to turn the page. Yeah, yeah. So, it gets me a couple of reasons.
And I guess the way that I would do it would be, like, a binge in a series. Yeah. You know, I get lost in something that I've never watched before. And it could be a series where there's, like, a villain doing something.
You know, it could be something totally outside of myself. But I'm distracting myself from my stressful situation, and this is usually, like, at the end of the day. You know, this is after everything's over. You've got time to just think about something else.
Some people listen to podcasts. A lot of people, like, bring it home. A lot of people that like True Crime. That's a popular genre.
I do want to say, kind of summing up some of the things we talked about, I encourage us all to practice this, but we can't not revisit certain situations, you know? How about if we did all these things? We can forget about it. That situation where that stressor's probably still there, but when we come back to it, we're renewed.
Like, we may have a different point of view. We're in a better space mentally and physically to handle it, you know? So, there's a place for all of this, and it will be helpful in moving forward in those stressful situations. I like it.
So, this is April, and it's got something to do with stress this month, and so I'm hoping that everybody's going to take a moment to deal with some of the stress that they have in their lives. Get that work done. Yes. Thank you for joining us today, and the words of Bob Marley.
I wonder how he reduced stress. You know what? He writes a lot about it. There you go.
The music. The music. Just move on. So, he would still want you to live the life you love.
And love it like you live. Bye-bye.