Hand coloring ()
I am terrible at meditation. I am quite skilled in the art of anxiety and overthinking.
Over the years many blogs, books and doctors have encouraged us to sit on a floor, close our eyes and "clear our minds." That is an amazing tactic, especially in times of high-stress, but not everyone can truly achieve this, at least not easily.
In fact, attempting to do the "traditional meditation" seems to cause more anxiety because you’re trying very hard to clear your mind but realize you’re thinking too hard to clear your mind and therefore your mind isn’t clear and why am I so bad at this and…. Well, you know where the rest of that thought process goes.
Meditation takes focus and how you focus is entirely up to you. Here are a few techniques to practice mindfulness, ease stress and even "meditate" for the over-thinker.
COLORING
Chances are you’ve either seen an "adult coloring book" or there’s a good chance you own one. Allowing your mind and hands to work in tandem, selecting colors and staying between the lines (or outside the lines if that’s your style) gives you focus while cathartically watching something colorful come to life.
You can find adult coloring books on Amazon or in your nearest bookstore like Thalia. If you want to test drive coloring or if you’re looking to save money Just Color has hundreds of printable coloring sheets ranging from swear words to unicorns. If you’re a parent, this is a great opportunity to have everyone sit down and color a page for just a few golden minutes of silence.
CROCHET/KNITTING/SEWING
Whether you’re using one needles or two, activities like crocheting and knitting have a similar result as coloring: having your brain and fingers work together allowing you to focus and create. If you haven’t ever picked up a needle and yarn, don’t be intimidated. There are so many tutorials on YouTube and free patterns online to teach yourself. My mother showed me the basics of crochet but I have learned many intricate stitches thanks to crafty YouTubers.
YOGA
Yes, we all know Yoga is a great outlet for stress. However, what you may not realize is what stress does to your body. Prolonged periods of stress can damage cortisol production, which can lead to inflammation. Restorative Yoga can help with flexibility, tight muscles and increase circulation. The poses are designed to be gentle and loosen up the joints and muscles. Head to the yoga studio, or, if you cannot get away, you have my permission to put the kids in front of the TV to watch “Frozen 2” for the 600th time, sneak off to another room and do some light, gentle stretching. You can turn to YouTube or other streaming services but make sure you search "restorative yoga." Dr. Melissa West has a whole restorative yoga session online and it’s a good start for beginners.
JOURNALING
I don’t know many times it’s been suggested I journal but when I sit down and stare at the paper, I have no idea what to write. And this is coming from someone who writes for a living.
If you’re in that same boat, don’t despair. There are journaling templates to get you going. A good place to start is "gratitude journaling," which can help positively reframe your thinking in these trying times. Positive Psychology has some options and ideas to start you off.
Even if you don’t try any of these techniques, the one thing everyone needs to do is give yourself some grace.
If binge-watching all of “Bridgerton” in a single day is what you need to do to get out of your own head, do it. The great thing you’re accomplishing is surviving.
