Stress Relief Guide, and a sneak peak into our “retreat style” living
Amanda Stansfield
Our world has been completely turned upside down. As a community we’ve been told to stay home for our safety. School’s are closed and “work from home” is the new normal. What is happening in our world is scary and the fear of the unknown is creating feelings of panic and unrest.
Please use this post as a stress relief guide, my goal is to inspire you to see the light during these dark times. Below I share how my family and I are managing to stay healthy, happy and not allow stress and overwhelm rule our days.
MINDSET
The emotional state of your environment start’s with mindset. Sure, you can use the big scary words that you hear on the news — “Quarantine”, “Isolation” “shelter in place”, etc… Or you can call it your “retreat”, “staycation” or some other positive term.
Think of your ideal dream vacation.
…How would you start your day?
…What food would you eat?
…Would you read more?
…Allow yourself to close your eyes for a mid afternoon nap?
These are a few ideas for you to lean into the idea of slowing down and focusing on what matters most.
SLOW DOWN
As a collective we have learned to slow down. I felt the luxury this week of being truly engaged with my girls doing homework. I am thoroughly enjoying our slow and more purposeful mornings. We go for a walk a couple times a day with Luna in our neighborhood and spend as much time outdoors as possible, breathing in Momma Nature’s fresh air. Our back yard has become Serena’s little imagination playground. So far she’s built fairy gardens under the trees and next wants to tackle a DIY bird house. This creative play is exactly what I used to do as a child. I remember spending hours outside completely oblivious to the cold. Technology wasn’t a “thing” then and forget about hour long phone calls – we had to pay for those.
In the afternoon we enjoy a cup of tea and spend quiet time reading. The girls join me in a meditation and we sing mantras together. I’ve personally always found music to be a wonderful tool for healing and transformation. It can radically transform feelings of despair and cabin fever in ease and wonder.
Serena is practicing cosmic kids yoga daily (Harry Potter being her favourite so far), and keeping up with her ballet lessons via zoom recordings. She is having face-time play dates with her school buddies and she is spending as much time as she can outdoors.
I am recording barre classes and will share those on my FB page (AmandaStansfieldTribe), keep checking as I’ll upload a new one each week.
WHAT MATTERS MOST IS OUR HEALTH & HAPPINESS
Listening to the news is unpleasant and while staying informed is vital, it can become overwhelming. It’s made me realize that all that matters is our health, happiness and the people we love.
SELF LOVE CHALLENGE
As a community we can work together to cultivate the peace, love and healing our world so desperately needs. I want to encourage you to join me as I challenge myself to do ONE thing everyday to make sure I’m taking care of myself (and therefore the people I love), even in these scary times.
Don’t put any pressure on yourself to commit to a time length. SELF LOVE comes from a place of love, you want it to be something that brings you joy and comfort. That is the energy we need to sprinkle into our community, our countries and our world. There likely will be times when you can’t be bothered, and feel overwhelmed with the suffering in the world and think you don’t deserve it. But that’s exactly why you need it beautiful! You deserve to feel love.
KEEP IT SIMPLE
Let’s keep it simple, start with small daily acts of love.
You can download my Self-Love 30 Day Rituals. Or choose any from the list below.
- Stress Relief Latte. Heat your favourite plant based milk, add 1 tsp of Manuka honey, 1 tsp cinnamon and a few drops of CBD. Use a milk frother and cream delicious foam and pour it over your favourite calming tea.
- Start Meditating. This is my absolute #1 stress-relief tip. Simply find a comfortable place to sit, or lay down. Close your eyes and breathe. If your mind is over active, try calming music or a guided meditation.
- Go for a walk. Spend as much time as you an outdoors in Momma Nature. Trade a home workout for a long walk in the fresh air.
- Help others. Remember to smile when you pass a stranger on the street. Check in with your elderly neighbors.
- Connect. Pick up the phone and call/FaceTime a friend or family member. Have back garden dinner parties with your neighbors over the fence. If you know of anyone who is alone commit to a daily check in with them. Invite out of town family members or friends to “dinner via FaceTime or Skype.
- Eat healthy foods. Another of my absolute musts. Notice if you are prone to “emotional eating”, and keep healthy snacks on hand to nourish your body which ultimately provides the tools your body needs to deal with the stress you may be feeling.
- Play. Nothing creates happy hormones like good old laughter. Pull out a board game, charades etc.
- Rest. Allow your body more time to sleep. Carve out “quiet time” in the afternoon. Pour a cup of herbal tea and curl up with a good book.
Every day, commit to one thing…
Notice how you feel…
Then maybe the next day repeat it and choose another.
You’ll start to see the love and joy in some of the littlest things.
Washing the dishes — turn on some tunes and turn it into a dance party.
Folding laundry — why not turn on a podcast, audible or some tunes.
Even when you’re busy or don’t feel super inspired, do it anyway. GET UP OFF YOUR TUSH BEAUTIFUL and CHOOSE LOVE. Together we can choose kindness and love and transform these scary times, which ultimately creates calm and ease.
I also did a round-up on the blog of a bunch of different resources that might help you feel supported and lifted up:
How to create grounding evening routines
Most of all I hope these resources bring you comfort knowing you are not alone. Allow the light to shine in these dark times. If there is anything i can do to encourage or help you in anyway, please let me know. If there is anything you’d like to see in the coming weeks send me an email: Hello@ChampagneYogi.
From my heart to yours, I share the Lakshmi mantra with you:
Lokah Samastah sukhino bhavantu
May all beings everywhere be happy and free.
Amanda