Chronic Stress: One tiny yet powerful trick to restore your balance

I recall times in recent years when I would wake up in the morning and then think “something’s not right”. I get this sense of a wave engulfing me as the cortisol floods my system and I remember that thing that I was worrying about. It was almost constant: living with a feeling like the ground is not firm beneath my feet; an unshakeable sense of unease. This is one version of chronic stress. My sympathetic nervous system activated: ready to react in order to keep me alive.

We are not designed to live like this. And yet, are you?

Try this one small but mighty practice to help you reset: Place your hands on your belly, then:
1.    Breathe in through your nose and make your belly expand. Breathe out slower than the exhale.
2.    Breathe in again: see if you can do it without your shoulders or chest lifting at all. Feel your body soften as you gently deflate.
3.    Breathe ‘into your belly’ one more time… and slowly exhale.

Now notice: what has this done to your energy?

The belly breathing is activating your vagus nerve, signalling to your body that you are safe 🩵

This simple act creates space between you and the stressor and allows you the opportunity to choose how you respond, rather than reacting.