Today we are going to talk about handling stress. Because stress is one of the leading killers in Americans, one of the leading reasons for heart problems, and we really can do something about it.

Mostly this is a topic of retraining the brain. Creating a new web of thinking that involves rewiring what we see as priorities. When we live to work, we live to be stressed. Why not just work to live, and once work is finished for the day – stop working. Of course, it’s never that simple. But there are ways to reduce stress, one baby step at a time.When we retrain our brain to think of jobs, chores, activities as positive aspects of life then we are already beginning to reduce stress – because how can we be stressed when we are loving what we do?

But that takes practice. It’s hard to jump into these routines with a huge smile and a dedication to tackle everything with joy. Right, who can do that every day? So here are my favorite ways to chill out and slowly retrain my brain to embrace these activities with positivity, reducing stress along the way:

1 | go outside. When I’m at my office, I’m cooped up inside a small room with no access to natural lighting. That gets exhausting, and when I’m stressed I feel like I have no relief or escape. So, I’ll take a few minutes to just walk outside and soak up the sun. I generally tend to walk around the buildings, down to the dock, and then back up to my office. I’ll bring my lunch outside, make phone calls outside and just relax until I feel centered enough to return to the office. When I’m at home, I’ll work outside all day.

2 | get inverted. Yeah, I’m talking about handstands, head stands, shoulder stands… just get upside down for a few minutes. Roll out a mat or use a cushion and put that noggin on the ground, get those feet in the air. I love to teach inversions in my yoga classes because they are the perfect way to release stress and add a smile to the face. You cannot help but giggle or laugh after testing your balance in a handstand. When you’re done, take a child’s pose and then get back to work with a fresh focus. I am working on using my core to pike up into a headstand, so I just take a light pillow under my head and get closer to a wall and try a few times before giving it a rest and returning to work.

3 | take quick breaks. This goes hand in hand with stepping outside for a few minutes, but when you start to feel yourself get stressed then take a moment to step away. As much as you want to just power through, your body and your mind will thank you for resting it off. Get up from the computer or from the books, walk away, grab some water, listen to some music, mindlessly browse Pinterest, whatever you need to do to just take your mind off of it for a few moments. Return when you feel ready to tackle it from a different perspective. For me, I grab a glass of water and watch the lizards who live on my window screens. I get my dog involved by throwing her frisbee or just running my hands through her hair, which always relaxes me.

4 | write it down. Maybe it’s not work that stresses you out, maybe it’s a certain situation in life. It is difficult to retrain the brain to embrace all life’s journeys with open arms. Most times we view challenges as hardships. But what if we start to look at them as moments to test our strength, courage and faith? An opportunity to embrace life as a gift. I try this by writing it down; I journal about what challenges me and how I work to overcome it through faith and love. Of course it’s hard, but that is why we take baby steps. Then the next time I encounter a challenge, I try to immediately think about the positive outcome or how it can only make me a stronger, better person.

5 | namastay & pray. Meditate, of course. And perhaps this is the most difficult way to retrain the brain, but it can also be the most beneficial. Practicing mindfulness has health benefits beyond what science and medicine can really show or prove to us. When we practice focusing on just ONE thing at a time, we retrain the brain to slow the needless chatter. We can also practice focusing on nothing, just envisioning a color or blankness and holding that presence for a few breaths or a few minutes. There are many ways to meditate and it’s up to you to find what works best in your situation. I like to sit on a soft cushion and play some gentle music. Then I take a few breaths to center myself, just listening to my breathing and the sound of the music slowly disappears. I then try to envision a soft color, and keep that color washing over the back of my eyelids for a few breaths. Meditation takes practice. I encourage you to try a meditation class and enjoy the benefits of being guided into the practice.

These are a few of the ways I work to slow down my thoughts, relieve some stress and tackle life with a positive attitude. What do you do? I’d love to hear your ideas!