As an SLP (and a mom and a human and a yoga teacher and everything), there are days when my energy feels great. I am focused, feel awake, am able to think clearly and work efficiently, and am just overall feeling good. These are the days where I can feel my energy flow, steadily and solidly.
There are also days when my energy levels are totally out of whack:
- I feel frazzled and scattered in my thoughts
- I feel T-I-R-E-D and can’t think clearly at all
- My body feels tense and drained
- I’m exhausted
- I’m hyper and can’t focus or just want to move
- I’m anxious
- And so many variations
Can you relate?
As an SLP, you are bound to feel different from day to day, or even hour to hour, with all that you are trying to balance and work through. Sometimes you feel like you are ready to push through and struggle to make it all happen, and other days you want to just give in and give up. It’s incredibly stressful either way. Taking deep breaths and moving your body can help you to reduce and manage the stress you are feeling, and give you a way to feel steady and ready for the rest of your day or week.
On these days, movement is key for me – either to help me bring my energy levels up and feel more motivated or to bring them down and get more grounded. And sometimes, I need a combination of things to help me really feel my best. Movement will help me to get out of my head, and into my body when my thoughts are spiraling or not focused. It also helps me to feel more energized when I am exhausted but HAVE to do the work. My favorite style for these days is often yoga, a walk outside, or a class called “Energy Flow”, that I taught for my first 5 years as a yoga + mind-body fitness instructor.
In the Energy Flow class, you combine some yoga, Pilates, barre, aerobics and conditioning to help you either lift up your energy or burn off some of it, or a combination of the two. I always feel better after this style of class. The combination of taking deep breaths and moving with awareness for my body helps me to focus, feel calm, and feel ready to take on my day – without feeling overly exhausted or depleted.
You can download this “Energy Flow” Mindful Movement Practice in the SLP Toolbox, a FREE resource library to help SLPs reduce and manage stress. Sign up below for access.
You can also check out even more “Mindful Movement” videos and SLP Stress Management Q&A’s and tips on the SLP Stress Management YouTube channel.
Much Love,
