6 Ways To Unwind in 60 Seconds

Let's face it these last few months have brought about unexpected anxiety and stress throw in a pandemic and an election... well let's just say unwinding may take some thoughtful intentions.  So if  you find yourself feeling this way, no worries! We have a few of the Allay team’s favorite quick tips to get some R&R now. Whether you're at work or home, these six easy tips will leave you feeling relaxed and peaceful in a minute or less.

Stop and Breathe!
Options: 

• Just sit down, and take 4 deeeeeep belly breaths - Easy!
• Inhale 4 counts, Hold 4 counts, Exhale 4 counts - Repeat for 1 minute
• Inhale, internally saying “I”: Exhale, internally saying “Am” - I am. I am. I am. 
• Step Outside
  Walk away from your desk, computer, phone and go walk outside (again, without your phone). Look up, look around, walk around, and inhale some fresh air. 
  Guided Imagery 
  Have you heard the saying that - anxiety is a waste of your precious imagination! 
  Ditch your worries and imagine you are laying down on a warm sunny beach, and feel the sunshine on your face and skin while the waves peacefully roll in and out. 
  Guided imagery is a powerful meditation tool that can give you a temporary escape from everyday worries and stresses. Invite all your senses to participate: imagine what you see, hear, and smell in this peaceful place.
  Move Quick - Stop a Panic Attack in 60 seconds! 
  Quick paced movement - like sprinting down the street, push-ups and jumping jacks - can release endorphins quickly and minimize the panic. 
  Yummy Smells
  Ever noticed how certain smells can tap into memories immediately? The olfactory (sense of smell) center of the brain resides in the same area that our memories live! 
  Breathe in Essential Oils - Lavender, Wild Orange, Lemon, Bergamot, and/or Peppermint (or if there is a special oil you love).  Open up our gold  jar and be transported to that tropical vacation spot! 
  Put a few drops of our cbd topical on our hands, rub your hands vigorously and breathe in!
  You can also rub a few drops through your hair to continue the yumminess throughout the day!
  Another way to infuse your day with relaxing smells is to use an Essential Oil Diffuser. 
• Self Affirmations + Mantra 
  Back before there were psychiatrists and therapists to prescribe Prozac and Xanax, people were using mantras to calm their nervous systems. Rewire your thinking by repeating simple phrases, and enjoy a more peaceful mind. 
  You can always create your own mantra, self-affirmation! 
  Here are some of our favorites: 
• This too shall pass
• There is no emergency
• All of my needs are met 
• I release what I can not change 
• I am grateful
• I trust myself to handle anything that comes my way, with grace.
• We are firm believers that if it doesn’t exist on your calendar, it doesn’t exist!
• Schedule your Exercise - and don’t cancel on yourself!
• Schedule “white space” - plug-in and block off  time to do nothing, to take a break, to rest
• Set the Relaxation Scene - light a candle, burn incense, turn on relaxing music, dim the lights, turn on the fireplace :) 
• Epsom Salt Bath - 1-2 cups of Epsom salts,  a few drops of your favorite essential oils in the tub, and light a candle. 
• Get cozy - put on comfy clothes, snuggle up and have a cup of tea!
• Relaxing herbal teas - These teas are all “nervines” that help calm your nervous system: Chamomile, Lavender, Passiflora, Skullcap, and Kava. 
  
  Extra Support !!
• Remember, Nutrition, Sleep, Exercise, and Meditation is always your best medicine! 
  
  Use self-care rituals to bring calm to your day
  Some ideas: Making communal meals and grabbing last-minute gifts, the holiday season certainly gets us out of our usual routines, and often, we unintentionally end up neglecting our usual daily rituals that make us feel good. Before you feel stressed, make sure that you have these practices in place! ​

CBD is a safe and immensely effective in diminishing the side effects of muscle stress and tension, coupled with improving the day-to-day of thousands of patients. Try it for yourself, with Allay's CBD body butter! 

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