6 Ways To Feel Grounded When You’re Overwhelmed

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

Let’s face it, life can make us feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes. These days, I’m feeling overwhelmed every other day. Small tasks that used to be manageable now seem difficult. I have difficulty remembering things or making decisions. Sometimes I find myself sitting on the floor with tears rolling down my face.

And I remind myself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and I know I’m not the only one this is happening to. I hear it from my friends, my clients, and I see people sharing online. The world feels upset down and we are overwhelmed! Yet, all the while, we’re trying to push on like things are normal.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of things that can help to prevent, manage and reduce the overwhelm. In fact, if used consistently and intentionally, it can make it disappear completed. Here’s six:

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

Let’s face it, life can make us feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes. These days, I’m feeling overwhelmed every other day. Small tasks that used to be manageable now seem difficult. I have difficulty remembering things or making decisions. Sometimes I find myself sitting on the floor with tears rolling down my face.

And I remind myself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and I know I’m not the only one this is happening to. I hear it from my friends, my clients, and I see people sharing online. The world feels upset down and we are overwhelmed! Yet, all the while, we’re trying to push on like things are normal.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of things that can help to prevent, manage and reduce the overwhelm. In fact, if used consistently and intentionally, it can make it disappear completed. Here’s six:

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

Let’s face it, life can make us feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes. These days, I’m feeling overwhelmed every other day. Small tasks that used to be manageable now seem difficult. I have difficulty remembering things or making decisions. Sometimes I find myself sitting on the floor with tears rolling down my face.

And I remind myself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and I know I’m not the only one this is happening to. I hear it from my friends, my clients, and I see people sharing online. The world feels upset down and we are overwhelmed! Yet, all the while, we’re trying to push on like things are normal.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of things that can help to prevent, manage and reduce the overwhelm. In fact, if used consistently and intentionally, it can make it disappear completed. Here’s six:

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

Let’s face it, life can make us feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes. These days, I’m feeling overwhelmed every other day. Small tasks that used to be manageable now seem difficult. I have difficulty remembering things or making decisions. Sometimes I find myself sitting on the floor with tears rolling down my face.

And I remind myself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and I know I’m not the only one this is happening to. I hear it from my friends, my clients, and I see people sharing online. The world feels upset down and we are overwhelmed! Yet, all the while, we’re trying to push on like things are normal.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of things that can help to prevent, manage and reduce the overwhelm. In fact, if used consistently and intentionally, it can make it disappear completed. Here’s six:

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

Let’s face it, life can make us feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes. These days, I’m feeling overwhelmed every other day. Small tasks that used to be manageable now seem difficult. I have difficulty remembering things or making decisions. Sometimes I find myself sitting on the floor with tears rolling down my face.

And I remind myself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and I know I’m not the only one this is happening to. I hear it from my friends, my clients, and I see people sharing online. The world feels upset down and we are overwhelmed! Yet, all the while, we’re trying to push on like things are normal.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of things that can help to prevent, manage and reduce the overwhelm. In fact, if used consistently and intentionally, it can make it disappear completed. Here’s six:

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

Let’s face it, life can make us feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes. These days, I’m feeling overwhelmed every other day. Small tasks that used to be manageable now seem difficult. I have difficulty remembering things or making decisions. Sometimes I find myself sitting on the floor with tears rolling down my face.

And I remind myself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and I know I’m not the only one this is happening to. I hear it from my friends, my clients, and I see people sharing online. The world feels upset down and we are overwhelmed! Yet, all the while, we’re trying to push on like things are normal.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of things that can help to prevent, manage and reduce the overwhelm. In fact, if used consistently and intentionally, it can make it disappear completed. Here’s six:

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

Let’s face it, life can make us feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes. These days, I’m feeling overwhelmed every other day. Small tasks that used to be manageable now seem difficult. I have difficulty remembering things or making decisions. Sometimes I find myself sitting on the floor with tears rolling down my face.

And I remind myself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and I know I’m not the only one this is happening to. I hear it from my friends, my clients, and I see people sharing online. The world feels upset down and we are overwhelmed! Yet, all the while, we’re trying to push on like things are normal.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of things that can help to prevent, manage and reduce the overwhelm. In fact, if used consistently and intentionally, it can make it disappear completed. Here’s six:

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

Let’s face it, life can make us feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes. These days, I’m feeling overwhelmed every other day. Small tasks that used to be manageable now seem difficult. I have difficulty remembering things or making decisions. Sometimes I find myself sitting on the floor with tears rolling down my face.

And I remind myself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and I know I’m not the only one this is happening to. I hear it from my friends, my clients, and I see people sharing online. The world feels upset down and we are overwhelmed! Yet, all the while, we’re trying to push on like things are normal.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of things that can help to prevent, manage and reduce the overwhelm. In fact, if used consistently and intentionally, it can make it disappear completed. Here’s six:

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

Let’s face it, life can make us feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes. These days, I’m feeling overwhelmed every other day. Small tasks that used to be manageable now seem difficult. I have difficulty remembering things or making decisions. Sometimes I find myself sitting on the floor with tears rolling down my face.

And I remind myself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and I know I’m not the only one this is happening to. I hear it from my friends, my clients, and I see people sharing online. The world feels upset down and we are overwhelmed! Yet, all the while, we’re trying to push on like things are normal.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of things that can help to prevent, manage and reduce the overwhelm. In fact, if used consistently and intentionally, it can make it disappear completed. Here’s six:

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

Let’s face it, life can make us feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes. These days, I’m feeling overwhelmed every other day. Small tasks that used to be manageable now seem difficult. I have difficulty remembering things or making decisions. Sometimes I find myself sitting on the floor with tears rolling down my face.

And I remind myself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and I know I’m not the only one this is happening to. I hear it from my friends, my clients, and I see people sharing online. The world feels upset down and we are overwhelmed! Yet, all the while, we’re trying to push on like things are normal.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of things that can help to prevent, manage and reduce the overwhelm. In fact, if used consistently and intentionally, it can make it disappear completed. Here’s six:

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

Let’s face it, life can make us feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes. These days, I’m feeling overwhelmed every other day. Small tasks that used to be manageable now seem difficult. I have difficulty remembering things or making decisions. Sometimes I find myself sitting on the floor with tears rolling down my face.

And I remind myself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and I know I’m not the only one this is happening to. I hear it from my friends, my clients, and I see people sharing online. The world feels upset down and we are overwhelmed! Yet, all the while, we’re trying to push on like things are normal.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of things that can help to prevent, manage and reduce the overwhelm. In fact, if used consistently and intentionally, it can make it disappear completed. Here’s six:

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite. 

Let’s face it, life can make us feel pretty overwhelmed sometimes. These days, I’m feeling overwhelmed every other day. Small tasks that used to be manageable now seem difficult. I have difficulty remembering things or making decisions. Sometimes I find myself sitting on the floor with tears rolling down my face.

And I remind myself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and I know I’m not the only one this is happening to. I hear it from my friends, my clients, and I see people sharing online. The world feels upset down and we are overwhelmed! Yet, all the while, we’re trying to push on like things are normal.

Thankfully, there’s plenty of things that can help to prevent, manage and reduce the overwhelm. In fact, if used consistently and intentionally, it can make it disappear completed. Here’s six:

sit on the ground and drink tea

⁣Overwhelmed? Drink tea. Have a friend swinging by? Make tea. Feeling a bit low? A cup of tea sounds just right. Need a little comfort? Tea will do the trick!

Blame it on my English roots but for as long as I remember, a nice warm cup of tea was the cure for anything. And there’s actually some truth to it! Tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and positively affects mood. It’s science.

Combine this with getting as low to the ground as possible, sitting and grounding into the earth. Whether you’re grounding into your front lawn or your kitchen floor, getting low and intentionally focusing on feeling the weight of your body sinking into the ground can help to feel calm when you’re overwhelmed.

release overwhelm through movement

When you’re overwhelmed, the energy of that feeling resides within your body. It can make you feel jittery, give you a headache, you might feel scatterbrained or disorganized, maybe you can’t sit still or even start to pace.

All emotions are stored within the body so it makes sense that activating the body can help to release them. This stems from the theory of the mind-body connection – a belief that our thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs can positively and negatively effect the functioning of our bodies. On the other hand, how we treat and use our physical body can have a positive or negative impact on our mental wellbeing.

So, when your body is overrun with feelings of being overwhelmed, move your body! It doesn’t matter how you move your body – maybe you need to run it out, hit a punching bag, or maybe you prefer a walk. But as your body moves, it allows the overwhelm to move through it.

5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method

This grounding method is one of my favorites and can help almost immediately when you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s simple, you simply stop whatever you’re doing, take a breath, and begin to acknowledge:

• 5 things you can see
• 4 things you can touch
• 3 things you hear
• 2 things you can smell
• 1 thing you can taste

The reason this works is because it forces you to engage all of your senses. By doing so, you’re bringing your mind back into the present moment and focusing on noticing what’s directly around you as you move through the 5-4-3-2-1 engagement of the senses.

alternate nostril breathing

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s time to try out alternate nostril breathing. This type of meditative breathing is a yogic breathwork practice. Try it now:

• Sit in a comfortable position and place your left hand on your left knee
• Lift your right hand up toward your nose
• Exhale and then use your right thumb to close your right nostril
• Inhale through your left nostril and then close the left nostril with your index, middle or ring finger
• As you close your left nostril, lift your thumb to open the right nostril and exhale through the right nostril
• Inhale through the right nostril and then use your thumb close this nostril
• As you close your right nostril, lift your index/middle/ring finger to open the left nostril and exhale through the left side nostril

The above counts as one round of alternate nostril breathing. Do as many as feels comfortable for you, up to 10 rounds. Not only does this grounding technique work to relax your nervous system but it’s said to have many other health benefits as well!

get your hands in the dirt, mud, clay, paint, etc.

There is something inherently grounding about getting your hands in the earth. So many avid gardeners and plant lovers are out there talking about how grounding and calming it is to get their hands in the soil. Scientific studies have been done about this very topic, showing interesting results claiming that gardening can provide health benefits like reducing depression and anxiety, improving life satisfaction and improving mood. For most, getting our hands in the dirt actually boosts our serotonin – aka the happy hormone.

Don’t have any dirt to dig in? You can see similar effects by getting your hands in the mud, paint, clay, etc. Maybe you want to try out pottery or finger painting and see for yourself.

do a body scan

A body scan meditation is one way to get out of your overwhelmed mind and back into your physical body. The intention of the body scan is to bring attention to your body, to notice different sensations from what is feeling good, where things ache, feel tense, etc. When I do this, I like to image a soft warm light traveling down my body from my head to my toes. 

To do this, get into a comfortable position laying down. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Begin your scan at the top of your head and slowly move down the body. Intention and awareness is everything here. Do this slowly, spending anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute scanning one part of your body. Pay attention to any sensations, feelings of discomfort, tension, pain, emotions or even ease. 

As always, observe this all without judgement. If emotions come up, accept them without criticism. Continue to breathe slowly as you release focus on one part of your body and guide your focus to the next part of your body. Do this until you’ve reached your toes, connect to your breath and slowly bring yourself back to your surroundings. 

So, whether you’ve been feeling more overwhelmed than usual lately or you’re just needing a moment to relax, be sure to give these six self care practices a try and let me know which one was your favorite.