When athletes make a mistake, coaches tell them to shake it off. Shaking it off means putting the bad, uncomfortable, embarrassing situation behind us so that we can focus on the next play or opportunity.
Even though the hustle and bustle of the holiday season are behind us, we may still carry around some old stress or perhaps as the calendar flipped over to the new year, we’ve picked up some new baggage. This simple stress buster will help you “shake it off”.
Stand comfortably. Bring to mind a person, situation or personal characteristic that is causing you stress. Notice how your body feels when you bring this stressor to mind. Now start shaking your hands. Let your wrists, elbows and shoulders be soft. Shake your hands vigorously as if you’re trying to shake rings off your fingers. You can stand still or walk around. Keep shaking off the tension for about 2 minutes.
Ahhh. Do you notice a difference?
Leave behind the old. Create a new possibility.