News Post

by Lynn D. Hogewood

This is your weekly reminder to pause to take care of yourself. Here’s a suggestion for a scientifically proven wellness strategy in the middle of the day:

S.T.O.P.

S- Literally stop. Stop what you are doing. Then, moving to T, for a single minute up to 15 minutes.
T- Take a breath. Perhaps sit with noticing your breath for just a moment.
O- Observe your inhale, as the air comes into your nose, the rise of your chest, and as you exhale, the fall of your chest, being mindful of your shoulders, relaxing them from your ears.
P- Proceed with your day.

Alternatively,

S- Literally stop. Stop what you are doing. Perhaps, change your space or your orientation within your space. Then, moving to T, for a single minute up to 15 minutes.
T- Take a breath. With a few deep breaths, slow your nervous system, and with each inhale think relax, let go, be steady.
O- Observe. Spend a few moments observing a what’s going on in your body – scanning from head to toe. Or, observe all 5 of your senses in the time and space within which you exist.
P- Process — allow the observation of your body or senses to process through you, taking one last deep breath in, and exhaling it all out. Then, proceed with your day.

References:

The S.T.O.P. Practice: Creating Space Around Automatic Reactions – Mindful