Recently I’ve been asked to do a series of stress management programs rather than pure public speaking programs.  I think this is a reflection of the level of anxiety present in our world today.  Since all my speaking programs are focused on helping people find their calm center, I’ve found it easy to re-cast my material to help people manage a general level of stress.

With that in mind, I’m posting a few articles to this blog that speak to general stress management as well as speaking.  Here’s one…

Spring is a perfect time to develop a sensory presence practice.  Here are some simple strategies for calming down and managing your stress.

Sight: By simply stopping long enough to really see the budding trees or watch the geese flying overhead you’ll change your experience of time and in that moment you’ll find yourself calmer, more relaxed and less anxious.

Sound: Can you hear the distinct calls of the birds as they return from their winter homes? Do you know what kind of bird that is? Being curious about what’s happening in the moment takes you away from your cares and worries.

Touch: As the weather turns warm, whenever you think of it, stop long enough to feel the breezes on your skin. It doesn’t take long, just pause as you leave your house, as you get in your car, as you walk with friends.

Smell: What are your favorite smells of spring? New mulch being laid down? The warm, earthy smell of damp soil? The fresh and subtle fragrance of flower opening from the bud.  Set an intention for yourself to pay attention to the smells of spring.

Taste: Take a moment to simply savor the pure sweetness of maple syrup, either by itself or on a hot stack of pancakes.

None of these take longer than a few seconds, but each serves to bring you back to the present moment.You might find that one or two senses are more compelling for you. Savor those the most.

Every moment counts.

Any moment counts!