Harried lives, that’s what we live, some more than others and each day brings its own stress and anxiety. How are you managing?

Below are a few practices to help you keep your body, mind and spirit relaxed and joyful in the harried moments of your busy day.

Be still

When we are constantly on the go, we tend to skim a few minutes of the top of our busy day to repeat the static busy person’s prayer. Even worse, quiet time with God barely makes it to a couple days a week. In Psalm 46:10 God says, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Let’s face it, the way our lives have evolved, we are forced to be inventive with where and when we spend time to refresh and nourish our souls. When you’re on the maxi or bus and it is still dark outside, at your work desk before opening hours, some time out of your lunch hour, on the evening commute or those few minutes after your night-time shower before your family calls for your attention again.

Make time to be still for it is there that you will know him.

Smile

Don’t you just hate it when people keep telling you to smile?

But I’ve heard that smiling uses far fewer muscles than frowning yet it is great exercise for your face and it helps to keep wrinkles at bay making you look younger longer. My jury is still out on the wrinkle issue though.

Sometimes a serious demeanour can give people the wrong impression about you. If they got to know you better they’d realize that while you’re not a smiley-smiley kind of person, it doesn’t take much to make you smile either.

I’m not a smiley-smiley person myself, but it has nothing to do with being unhappy, troubled or angry or even being a downright sourpuss. It is simply that every spare moment when I am not outwardly busy with some task, I am deep in thought about something, most likely to do with writing. That’s my story.

What’s yours?

Smiling lights up your face, brightens your outlook and welcomes people into your moment, your day, your life. Think of extra special occasions in your life; amusing things your toddlers said and did, your wedding day, memorable outings with friends and so on.

Come on; give it a try. Smile nah.

Laugh

When was the last time you laughed until your cried, slapped your knee, doubled over and rolled on the floor?

When you laugh that kind of laugh every negative thing in your life takes a back seat. After, you get to walk away and get on with your day, feeling better and with a happy memory.

Don’t miss an opportunity to get a good hearty laugh every now and then. Laughing gives your heart a good cardio workout. It exercises your mind as it conjures up a visual picture of the object of your laughter and lifts your emotions.

Breathe

Pressure builds in the rush of our days. We get all wound up and very often we blow at the slightest nudge. If you’re walking around wound just a little too tight, forestall the explosion by taking as many releasing, cleansing breaths as you need to reach a calm place.

Slow, focused breathing works. While it doesn’t get rid of your problems, it helps to release the stress caused by anxiety. You don’t need a special place and a specific kind of atmosphere, sound or scent although they help soothe your senses. If you want to turn your simple breathing exercises into a very special time, try this:

At work, sneak off to the lunchroom during the morning period or mid-afternoon, hide in the washroom for a few minutes or go outside to a shady spot.

At home, if a clean and pleasant-smelling room where you won’t be disturbed for a few minutes is not possible, a short bathroom break can be one of the most calming moments in a day that is filled with chores, children and errands.

I call them releasing, cleansing breaths because as you continue and give yourself over to the rhythm of the exercise you will feel the stress easing away and your mind becoming clear of anxious thoughts. You need to let the tightness of your packed day loosen enough for you to relax and remember that you’re only human and need to take breaks and refresh yourself.

Go with the flow

Until the traffic jams ease, (God alone knows when that’ll be), take advantage of the two-minute crawl to ease into post-work-pre-home relaxation mode. I used to add more stress to my stressful day by fussing and fuming in the car as traffic inched along the highway between fifteen minute standstills. That was until I began to go with the flow or slow flow as you might prefer, traffic jams became the ultimate stress reliever.

Crank up the music to an acceptable level; sing to the top of your lungs regardless of other drivers’ reactions. Engage in some mental home decorating by thinking of simple things you can do to turn what seems ordinary into a relaxing and welcoming space. Function coming up, what are you going to wear? Mentally go through your closet for an appropriate outfit. Jot down a preliminary to-do list for the Christmas holidays.

Life is awash with all kinds of concerns and reasons to be anxious and stressful. Making it a practice to be still, to smile, to laugh and breathe even while stuck in traffic gives you a chance to relax your body, mind and spirit even as you go on with your harried life.