Natural ways to reduce anxiety – Part 4
Following on from my last post on calm breathing, I want to introduce you to calming counting. The advantage of this technique over calm breathing is that it helps you stop focusing on worried thoughts!
Calming Counting
- Sit comfortably.
- Take a long, deep breath and exhale it slowly while saying the word “relax” silently.
- Close your eyes.
- Let yourself take ten natural, easy breaths. Count down with each exhale, starting with “ten.”
- This time, while you are breathing comfortably, notice any tensions, perhaps in your jaw or forehead or stomach. Imagine those tensions loosening.
- When you reach “one,” open your eyes again.
As claming counts takes about 90 seconds this is precious time that your body gets to relax and quieten your mind.
It is perfectly possible to do this on your commute, as long as you don’t drive or at your desk or even in the loo!
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