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5Mar

Yoga as Magic, A Simple Anytime Flow: Mindful Movement for SLPs

Posted by: Jessi Andricks Categories: Mindful Movement Stress Management Yoga
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simple anytime flow

There are times when you just need a little break to get up and move around, especially after sitting for so long at your desk, or focusing really hard on something. Even when that work is enjoyable, it can create tension and brain fog. Getting up to move around, whether to take a walk outside or to stretch at your desk, can help you to feel refreshed, recharged, and refocused. 

One way that helps me, is to practice yoga. The combination of breath and movement, especially in a simple anytime flow-style class, for me, is a tiny bit magical. There have been a few times that I was incredibly stressed and felt like everything was falling apart (often related to work and feeling like I was in the wrong field or job or just wanted a little relief). My head was full of what-if’s, how can’s, and why this way, and my body felt tired and stiff. Once I made the decision (usually with some prompting from loved ones to get to a class), I immediately felt better, like a switch had been flipped and I was reset. 

  • There was the time I was crying over finally having a placement for the year (I had secretly hoped they wouldn’t have one, so I would have a real excuse not to go back), and I was contemplating over crawling into my bed at 3pm in the afternoon or going to my favorite yoga class. At the prompting of my loved one, I went to yoga. The teacher said everything I needed to hear (it was kismet), I cried. And I left feeling better, stronger, and ready to accept the position, even if I knew it wasn’t my forever goal (I left the field of SLP 6 months later). 
  • There was the time in more recent years where I had doubled my work hours and felt incredibly stressed and that burnout was creeping back in. I knew it was due to a lack of time for myself and some self-care. I was sitting far too much during the day and didn’t have enough creative time, nevermind time to move. Winter break was coming up and I was excited to have time (and some childcare for a bit) to head to a yoga class or two. But we all got the flu instead (hard) and I had one day before work started, and still had not gone to class. At the prompting of a family member who was visiting, I took time for myself and I went. And I felt an immediate weight lift off of me as I sweat, moved and breathed. It was my first yoga class in almost 2 years (motherhood, moving, new job), and it felt like coming home again. 

This feeling didn’t last forever, but each time it gave me a moment to breathe, to see a parting in the gray clouds that had taken over, and to feel that everything could be ok again, if I just took a  moment to breathe and move and tune in to what I really needed. It helped me see the magic of yoga again, and to feel empowered and more balanced for myself. 

Over the years, I have found that, when I am stressed about my job or life in general, yoga, especially a simple anytime flow type of practice, helps me to concentrate on something other than my work (this is also really helpful when I am having stressful or spiraling thoughts). When needed, it also helps to get back into my body, and less in my head, so my thoughts have a moment to pause and reset, and I can work out any tension that might be building from sitting to work all day. After yoga practice, I usually feel ready to get back to my work, at least for a little while. 

If you love yoga or are looking for a simple practice to help you when you are stressed, you can download a short, audio, 20 minute “Simple Anytime Flow” yoga practice in the SLP Toolbox, a FREE Resource Library full of tools to help you better manage and reduce your stress.

This “Simple Anytime Flow” is designed to help you connect your movement to your breath, so you can get out of your head, ease some tension, and find power within your body and mind. 

Sign up below to access this download and more.

What has your experience been with yoga? How has it helped you when you are stressed? Share in the comments below!

Much Love, 

Jessi

PS Have you checked out the SLP Stress Management Course? It’s an in-depth look at practical ways to manage and reduce your SLP Stress, and gives you the background into the stress you face, how and why it happens, and what will actually work to help it out (not looking at the brightside, ignoring the stress, complaining, wishful thinking, but real strategies that help your brain and body rewire the response to the inevitable stress you face.

This Self-Paced 8-week course is now available, but won’t be for long! (The LIVE version will be coming back soon).


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11Dec

Steady Yoga and Meditation Practice to Reduce Stress: Mindful Movement for SLPs

Posted by: Jessi Andricks Categories: Mindful Movement Stress Management
Comments Off on Steady Yoga and Meditation Practice to Reduce Stress: Mindful Movement for SLPs

yoga and meditation for SLP stress

Stress has a funny way of making everything seem as if it is moving at a faster pace, with a lot of components, and no time for any of them. As an SLP, this stress looks like too many extra tasks, too big of a caseload, too much productivity rates and way too much paperwork. And in 2020, it’s also too many changes thrown at you in a split second.

When stress hits, it can be tempting to try to speed up with it, in order to get more done and have more – more time, more freedom, more ease. But this usually ends up doing the opposite.

Speeding up feeds the stress mode you are stuck in and pulls you deeper into the “Cycle of Stress” (something we discuss within the SLP Stress Management Course).

You end up moving faster, which can lead to mistakes in your work and missing key pieces, mental exhaustion from constant multi-tasking, and feeling more stressed from the rush of trying to do it all. And once you are feeling stressed, it’s harder to turn down the response and switch into a more natural, less-stressed way of life.

One thing that can help you to slow down, when you are feeling more and more rushed, is a steadily-paced yoga practice. And one other thing that can help you even more is pairing it with a meditation practice. This combination of mindfulness practices allows you to tun into your breath, body and mind, so you can unwind, check in, and take care of yourself. The yoga and meditation for SLP stress combo help to reduce and manage it, while dropping you back into the present moment, your body, and out of ruminating or stressful thinking.

One great way to do this is through a “body scan” meditation, followed by a slow and steady flowing yoga class. This combination helps you to start slow, where you can tune into the body and breath, and then use movement to help stay connected to the breath and the present moment. This way, your brain is focused on “now”, you are reducing tension in your body, and you are turning down the stress response as you slow down.

Here is a quick yoga and meditation for SLP stress, available now in the SLP Toolbox, along with other meditation and movement audios, journal page templates, self-care checklists and more.

You can subscribe to this FREE resource library and access this Yoga+Meditation practice below:

If you are looking to dive even further into understanding and managing your stress as an SLP, make sure to check out the SLP Stress Management Online Course, now available in a Self-Study version. It includes the 8-module course, as well as bonus meditation and movement audios. You can find out more details here: SLP Stress Management Course.

Much Love,

Jessi

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9Oct

What to do When SLP Self-Care Gets Stressful

Posted by: Jessi Andricks Categories: Reduce Stress Self Care
Comments Off on What to do When SLP Self-Care Gets Stressful

slp self-careA few weeks ago I started back to work after the summer break. We had moved, my daughter was now in preschool and I had a brand new office I was getting set up. I had a new caseload for work and I was creating a more expanded schedule than the year before. There was time built into my schedule for lunch each day. I also planned flex time in the mornings and afternoons, to prepare for the day. This included self-care such as meditation or yoga or a walk outside. My daily SLP self-care routines had become pretty important to me for a few reasons.

  • My anxiety had increased with the stress of the move. I could feel it creeping up and needed time to myself to breath and relax again
  • Yoga and hiking were good for my body and mind, since they helped me work up a sweat. They also give me time to reflect on a mat or in nature.
  • Meditation was good for my brain. Not only was meditation good for easing some anxiety, it is also said to be great for preventative health care. I have a few family members with dementia and meditation has been shown to help maintain and improve your brain function.

It seemed perfect until reality hit. There would never be a day with a “perfect” schedule for all the SLP self-care things I wanted or needed to do. There would be mornings that didn’t run smoothly and I would use up all of that extra time on other things. I would have days with a gazillion emails that needed to be sent or the dogs would need to go out again. I would forget I was supposed to prep dinner a few hours early. They were all normal things, but at times really seemed to pile up.

I was feeling super rushed one week in particular. My morning had been hijacked by clients calling with scheduling issues. I was running late for work and not able to find the breakfast I wanted. In the afternoon, I was out walking the dogs, thinking about how if they hurried, I ‘d have 5 minutes to pee, make tea and get settled before my next session Then I would be able to squeeze in my daily meditation right after work and before my family arrived home. If I planned everything just perfectly, I’d be able to make it all happen, as long as not one thing fell out-of-place. Then it hit me. I was starting to find myself stressed about squeezing in my SLP self-care – the thing that was supposed to help me manage stress.

Have you ever had one of those moments, where it seemed like everything you were doing to feel better or do better was absolutely futile?

If you feel that way often, you might too be finding yourself stressed over your personal self-care routine.  You might be constantly stressing about how to not stress or worrying over how much self-care practices you can actually get in during one day. You may even be pushing to make it all happen, despite your crazy work schedule.

There are a few reasons this could be happening and a few things you can do to make it better.

Here is What to do When Your SLP Self-Care Gets Stressful:

  1. Check Your Schedule: If you feel like you are struggling to squeeze in your self-care practice into your already jam packed schedule, your schedule itself might be to blame. When we are stressed, we often start adding things into our day that are supposed to help us release stress. But if your schedule is already packed, adding in one more thing might make your stress levels skyrocket. Instead, try to look at your schedule and see where you can make an adjustment or find some time that you didn’t realize was there. You might notice you have a break after work or before bedtime, but tend to go on Facebook or Instagram. Instead, do your practice first, then hop on the social media sites.
  2. Change your work: Often we blame work for being the main thing that takes up all of our time and stops us from taking time for ourselves. If your work schedule is out of control, you might need to see how you can reorganize or prioritize it. Look at how you start your day and end your day, and when you actually arrive and leave. Look at any gaps in your day. Where you might be able to consolidate some activities you have planned? You’ll find your schedule might be a little lighter. This will automatically help you reduce stress, as well as find time to fit in your self-care routine.
  3. Change your self-care: You don’t have to do it all, all of the time. Even just 5 minutes of self-care can make a huge difference in balancing your life. If you notice that you are overwhelmed because you can’t fit all of your self-care routines into your day, it might be best to cut back a bit. While meditation, yoga, candle lit baths and a good book are all worthy rituals, trying to squeeze them all into one day might not leave you room to actually relax, breathe and let go of stress. Instead of cramming them all in, pick one or two that seem important on that day. You might find that you have more time to enjoy the practice, instead of just checking off an item from your self-care to-do list.

Just like with your SLP self-care routine, try choosing just one of these to implement. If it works, stick with it. If it doesn’t try another. Find what works right for you and keep it simple. For a few ideas, join the SLP Toolbox, featuring several simple self-care practices.

You can also check out these CEU/CMH Professional Development Webinars:

Have you found an SLP self-care routine that works or ever been stressed out over it? Leave a comment below and share what you do or how you need help doing it better.

Much Love,

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