I give you permission

I give you permission to relax. To let just that breath go you've been holding all day. To let your shoulders drop and your teeth unclench and your mind to stop whirring and your feet to stop twitching and pacing and to breathe all the way down to your socks and just... relax.

There. The world didn't end,  did it.

Thornypup

Those events you're replaying in your mind, (Yes,  those ones. The ones which you wished could have gone better.) You can let them go. They're done. Unchangeable. You have learned all you are going to from them already. It's ok to set them aside.

The schedule you are holding in your head with the to do list larger than Mt Everest, and the tricky timing to get it all done with the dependence on so many moving parts and backup plans and the anticipated doom. Write it down. There! Now you don't have to remember it all. You can just leave that be for now too.

And now...  R... E... L... A... X...

Ahhhhhhhh...

Think about your toes. And your feet. How're they doing? Hot/cold/sore? Legs? Still attached. Backside? Does it need to get out of a chair and resume it's normal shape? How's your back? Probably a bit achy - give it a stretch and a twist. Shoulders too while you're at it. Neck still keeping your head on? How's your nose going? It usually doesn't get much attention unless it's blocked. Give it a pat for good behaviour. Now smile because the idea of patting your nose is slightly ridiculous.

You've just done a body awareness check. It's like a teeny tiny meditation. You should now feel more connected with your body. More aware of its signs that you're overdoing it. And hopefully that one minute time out from the busyness in the brain has significantly lowered your stress and adrenalin levels. So you're now actually able to tackle your next task feeling renewed. And calm. And prepared. And... still.