Five Easy Ways to Reduce Stress When Standing in Line at Starbucks
The other day, I was standing in line at Starbucks, waiting to order my Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha -
okay, fine, I was in the drive-thru. And it was iced decaf coffee with cream. And sugar. And it wasn’t Starbucks, it was Dunkin. But I didn’t get any donuts. Okay, maybe just one, but it was plain. And a Boston Creme. Stop judging.
So I was getting said drink, at said beverage establishment and I was noticing a little tension in my back and a nagging irritation about all the things I wanted to get done that day, and I thought that now was as good a time as any to practice what I say all the time in my classes:
The best time to practice releasing tension is during your normal, everyday activities.
Here are five easy ways to reduce stress and physical tension while standing in line at a coffee shop:
Support - Allow the ground to support you. What does it feel like to know that you don’t have to hold yourself up on the earth? Can you release a little bit, knowing that there is nothing you need to do to keep yourself upright?
Sigh - Allow yourself a long exhale. Set aside the idea of taking a breath and let the inbreath simply be the natural conclusion to a long outbreath.
Sense Movement - Notice how your body moves with your breath; the rising and falling of your chest; the subtle movement of your shoulders as they float above your rib cage; the gentle expansion of your back.
See - Notice what is around you. Allow your peripheral vision to take in the space above, below, and on the sides of you. Sense the space behind you.
Soften - Allow a softening in your ankles, in your knees. Allow a lengthening and widening in your back and shoulders. Allow your head to float up as your neck gently releases.
You (and I) can do this anywhere, anytime. Try it and let me know how it goes!
