Stress Management -Part 1

When all is said and done (whatever that means) with the Covid19 pandemic you will want to come through this time with the best possible outcome, right? There is so much going on and it is so different for everyone. Seriously! I don’t think there are two people who are having the exact same experience right now and yet there is certainly not a single person on the face of this earth that is not have some sort of impact. It may be small and you don’t see it but it is there. Or it may be the largest thing in your life right now and you can’t get away from it. One thing is for sure, it is more important than ever to take care of yourself right now. Here are some things you can do to relax your body, tone down your nervous system and get better sleep.

If you find yourself doing a lot of sitting it is so important for you to break up the day with some movement and stretching. If you are running around like crazy because work is overloaded you want to take small moments for centering and grounding. ​

Try these:
Shoulder rolls:

• Sit in a chair, rest your hands on your lap
• Move shoulders forward, up, back and down.
• Keep going around counting 1-8, then reverse direction counting 8-1.
• This will take you about 30 seconds. I know you can find the time. ​

Wrist stretches:

• Still sitting in your chair.
• Reach one arm straight out in front of you with your palm facing the floor.
• Grab your hand with your other hand and bend fingers toward the floor.
• Feel the stretch in your forearm. (This is where all your typing muscles are)

• Now turn the palm face up.
• Grab your hand and bend the fingers toward the floor. This gets the other side.
• Hold each stretch for 30 seconds each. Do on both sides. ​​

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Wrist Flexion Stretch

Wrist Extension Stretch

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Get up and MOVE:

• After 60 minutes at the computer, you definitely want to get up and move around. 
• Try drinking water while you are working and then your bladder will let you know it is time to get up.
• Drinking water will be helpful in so many other ways as well. Let's keep that body functioning in tip/top shape.

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Stretch your hips and calves: When you have been sitting for a long time, your hips are always bent and the muscle in the front get shortened and tight.

• Stand up and turn to face your chair.
• Put one foot on the chair as if you have just conquered the mountain. (make sure the chair will not roll)
• Stairs will work too. Put your foot up on the 2nd or 3rd step, depending on your height.
• Reach forward and hold the back of the chair or reach for the stairs
• Lunge your hips forward.
• Note the stretch in your standing calf and the front of your standing hip. Depending on your tightness, you might also feel this in the but of the bent leg.
• Hold each stretch for 30 seconds each. Do on both sides.

Start here and check back for more to come... tomorrow.
Be safe, stay well, breathe and stretch,
Shannon

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