"Ugh! I'm feeling stressed out." How many times during the week does this thought cross our minds? Better yet, how many times do we just feel the stress, but don't even stop to think about what we're feeling... it's not even a thought at that point, but just a feeling of overwhelm. Maybe we have a runaway To Do list. Or a looming deadline. Or a big task on our plate and don't know how to start. Or chronic pain in our physical body that naturally produces mental stress. Whatever the case, we all feel some level of stress throughout the week. The question is, "What's the best way to handle our stress?"
Notice I said "handle" stress... not "reduce" or "eliminate" stress. Why? Because stress is not something you can get rid of. It is a part of our human experience and exists for people of all ages, from very young to very old. Stress, though unpleasant, can drive our behavior and lead to us action. A baby that is hungry gets stressed out if they are not fed. An elderly person who does not receive enough hugs and physical touch starts to get stressed out from lack of connection (hug starvation is absolutely real). Realizing that our goal should be figuring out how to respond to our stress, not get rid of it, let's use our senses to handle our stress. This will help all of us avoid feeling immobilized or dropping into a negative mindset.
Our senses are the most powerful tools we can use for stress relief.
- Taste - when stress hits, the simple act of popping a mint in your mouth can reduce stress and help you switch mental gears. Peppermint soothes as well as energizes in one fell swoop. Beyond mint, simply having a bit of our favorite food or drink can reduce our stress. Love the flavor of apple? Or citrus? Have a bite of fruit the next time you notice you're feeling stressed. It doesn't even have to be sweet to give you a lift. Just consume a bit of something you enjoy and let your brain experience the shift.
- Smell - the next time you feel a sense of overwhelm, BREATHE. Just focus on your breathing for 90 seconds. The breathing alone is enough to fortify you and give you a boost. Beyond that, light a fragrant candle, spray some home spray, or spritz a favorite perfume or cologne. Essential oils are also easy to use also and come in all varieties. Placing ten drops of an oil on a cotton ball and keeping it on your desk can do wonders for shifting your focus and energy.
- Touch - using our sense of touch to feel something soothing is a no-brainer. Have a soft jacket you enjoy? Put it on and take a moment to actually touch the fabric. Sitting in a stiff chair? Grab a cushy pillow and support your back. Have a pet at home? Go pet your fur-baby and give them a hug, and enjoy the natural relaxation that comes from the interaction. Your pet will graciously receive the attention and your brain will benefit at the same time. And of course, HUG someone. They say you need a minimum of 8 hugs per day to survive, 12 hugs per day to thrive. That is no joke... that is a prescription for good health. Take it seriously.
- Vision - those of us with eyesight can look at something that is beautiful to us... whether it's flowers outside while we walk, or a lovely piece of art, or a landscape that takes our breath away. With one quick internet search for something we deem visually appealing, we can feed our minds imagery that uplifts and enriches. From photographs of mountains, to trees and forests, to beaches, to outer space, to incredible animals, to pictures of people smiling... there is no end to what we can look at to shift our thinking away from stress.
- Hearing - those of us who can hear are able to listen to uplifting music, or look up soothing sounds online... birds chirping, forest sounds, beach waves, breeze and the ocean. The list is endless. I learned some years ago that our friends in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing community put on loud music with a strong and heavy beat that they are able to FEEL in an entirely different way than those of us who are hearing. What a powerful way to take in music through the impact of rhythmic beats and heavy drums. Even if we cannot hear the music, we can feel a beat and even be inspired to DANCE.
And then there's one more stress reducing tool at our disposal...
- Movement - this is not thought of as one of our SENSES, but movement handles stress in ways nothing else can. Our bodies are not designed to be sedentary. And the thing to remember is that we do not have to be regulars at the gym to add daily movement to our routine. While hitting the gym can benefit all of us, a simple, brisk 5-minute walk is all it takes to tamp down our stress and lift up our mindset. In fact, a 5-minute walk daily prevents cognitive decline and mentally stimulates every person, of every age. Even if you lack energy, the quick walk outside is an easy fix that adds energy back to you.
This week, as you go about your day, when you feel stressed out, don't let yourself be dragged down.
You are an input-output system. Input something positive and good things will come out. Notice your stress. Recognize it. And then use your senses. Just pick one and go from there. Your senses are a gift you can use anytime, anywhere.
