Tips to Keep Calm and Upbeat from Chicago Area Wellness Practitioners

Tips to Keep Calm and Upbeat from Chicago Area Wellness Practitioners

Currently, we find ourselves navigating topsy-turvy, uncertain times. Sometimes, it may feel easy to get stuck in a net of stress. Fortunately, we have talented local wellness practitioners with ideas you can use at home to keep calm, take a pause for YOU, stay positive and break from that net. Enjoy these tips from five Chicago area wellness practitioners:

Dr. Bonnie Estensen, Psy. D., L.C.P.C. of Guided Path Psychological Services suggests:

"Plan a vacation day at home. Indoor scavenger hunts, a backyard picnic, happy upbeat music, tent inside or outside, vacation type foods, casual clothes or any activities that add joy to your day."

Kate Wargin, LAc acupuncturist and herbalist explains:

“During times of stress it is always important to show compassion for oneself. If you need to sleep more, or eat more, or have days when you feel you have done nothing...that is okay. Your body will thank you when you listen to what it needs rather than letting your mind think it should be accomplishing something else. Practicing self love is a good way to de-stress your body as well. A meditative exercise to send yourself love is by placing one hand on the center of your lower abdomen below your belly button, and the other hand in the center of your chest between the breasts. There are specific acupuncture points that lie beneath these areas-meditate by breathing deeply into your lower abdomen while focusing on sending loving energy and light into the area on your chest.” 

Toni Mo, Yoga Instructor and Holistic Life Coach of Soul Matters provides us with prompts to infuse positivity throughout the day:

Daily Thoughts for Positivity:

1. Start and end your day with gratitude. Find one thing however small to be grateful for.

2. Move your body. Yoga, walking, stretching..get the energy to move around inside of you so you can get rid of what you don't need and keep what you do!

3. Connect with people daily. Send a text, send an email, make a call....

4. Be present. Put down your phone. Enjoy the moment you are in.

 

5. Breathe.

Becky Kopec, Amrit Method Yoga Nidra Facilitator, Sound Healer and Holistic Wellness Practitioner from Eve of Alchemy encourages us to explore essential oils.

"Lavender essential oil can help to manage stress, improve sleep and ease headaches. You can apply it to your skin with a carrier oil such as jojoba or coconut oil, diffuse it or try putting a couple drops on a tissue or cotton ball under your pillow at night."

Rae Luskin, Author of Art From My Heart and The Creative Activist, Artist, Creative Activist and Speaker invites us to:

"Every day explore and experiment with creativity. Creativity -- no need to be an artist. If you can hold a crayon or pencil, you will be successful. Creative expression helps you reduce stress and find inner calm. Unleash your inner healer. Have more fun. Experience richer more affirming relationships."

On Rae's The Winning Adventure Facebook Page, she is sharing a variety of creative prompts like the one below. So, check the page out for more creative explorations.

A Big Thank You to Dr. Bonnie, Kate, Toni, Becky and Rae for suggesting wonderful strategies for staying calm, easing stress and keeping positive during a confusing time!