kgossman Planning a wedding is hard! There are so many decisions to make, people offering their opinions, and family drama to work around. I don’t blame you for feeling tired, burnt out, or just over it! Whether you’re a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) or just stressed out from planning your upcoming wedding, here are techniques for clearing your energy and relaxing your way into wedded bliss!
Breathwork
Breathwork is an amazing tool to have in your arsenal for coping with stress and overwhelm. There are lots of different methods for breathwork, but here are two simple ones I like. These are great because you can do them literally anywhere and no one is the wiser. I’ve used these techniques in the grocery store, in traffic, at work, at events, and at home. They’re simple to remember and help instantly calm your nervous system that sends you into fight or flight mode.
The first method is the 3-5 method. Fun fact, when we breathe in, our heart rate speeds up. And when we breathe out, our heart rate slows down. So if you’re feeling triggered by something and starting to feel anxiety or anger rising, use this method to slow down your heart rate and reset your sympathetic nervous system. For the 3-5 breathing method, you’ll breathe in for 3 counts and breathe out for 5 counts. Be sure to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Do this for at least five breath cycles and you’ll begin to feel calmer and less on edge.
The other breathwork method I use is the 4-4-4-4 method or the box method. This says to breathe in for 4 counts, hold it for 4 counts, breathe out for 4 counts, and then hold again for 4 counts. And then begin the cycle again. This one comes less naturally to me, but is really good when I’m super stressed out and on the brink of tears. After about 5 cycles of this, you can switch into the 3-5 method if you prefer it or move into your natural breathing rhythm while still focusing on your breath.
Meditation
There are tons of forms of meditation, so I won’t get into those here today. But any form of meditation can be calming when you’re stressed out. Sometimes I do guided meditations for extra help and sometimes I just put on spa music from Spotify and do my own thing. You can chant mantras, focus on your breathing or a sound in the room, or simply observe your thoughts coming and going. Do whatever you’re in the mood for that you can handle. I find that a chanting meditation with a mantra is excellent for clearing energy. The more you can vibrate your vocal cords when saying the words, the better. That’s why mantras like “om” are simple, yet powerful!
Energy Clearing
Speaking of clearing energy, this one is big for all my fellow HSP’s out there! If you’re an HSP, you tend to take on the energies around you. It’s so important for HSP’s to clear out that energy from others on a regular basis. There are several methods for doing this, but my favorite is another breathwork technique I call the breathe in, breathe out method. (Clever and unique, I know!)
This method involves sitting still or lying down and focusing on your breathing. After a few intentional breaths to start, shift into a natural breath pattern. On the inhale, I think of something I want to breathe in. You can think it or say it out loud. On the out-breath, I think of something I want to release. For example, “I breathe in peace, I breathe out anxiety.” You can say the same ones over and over or switch them up at each breath. Another version of this is to think the word ‘release’ on every out-breath.
Down Time
It’s super important for HSP’s to have down time to unwind and release the energies of others that they’ve collected. Unwinding could include reading a book, going for a relaxing walk, exercising, or taking a calming bath. Find a few things that help you relax and make time to do them regularly. I like choosing 1 night a week for my relaxation ritual. I do extra skincare habits, take a nice long bath, do an extra meditation, and do some breathwork to clear my energy. Once I made this a habit, I look forward to my self-care evening and I know that relief is coming soon!
Dance It Out
Dance is an excellent way to release your body’s energy and it makes you happy! And the great thing about this method is you can do any style of dance. It can be twerking, Salsa, Zumba, or hip hop. Just get yourself moving! Put on a fun playlist and shake those hips! Not only is this a great workout, but you’ll be back to feeling like yourself quickly afterwards.
I hope you find some of these methods helpful for helping you release that energy that you’ve gathered all day or week and release it once and for all. As an HSP, it’s important to make regular time for energy clearing and restoring yourself. HSP’s require this much more than others do. Listen to your body and when it needs rest, honor that! Rest can be a nap or just taking some down time to do something that makes your soul happy. Doing this will help relax you and restore you back to self. Make self-care a habit in order to live your best HSP life!
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