What Are Glimmers and How They Can Help You Achieve a Calmer Life

We all know what "triggers" are and how they are a stimulus that can cause a person to have an emotional or behavioral response - often based on a negative experience.  Triggers can be internal or external and can come from a variety of sources.

But have you heard of "glimmers" and do you know what they are? 

Glimmers are the opposite of triggers, being micro moments of joy that help us to feel calm and safe by soothing our nervous system.

Glimmers can be anything from hearing a favorite song on the car radio or taking that first sip of coffee or tea in the morning.  The more you make the most of looking for glimmers, the more you will naturally spot them day to day.  They can be all around you. 

 Here are some suggestions on how to include GLIMMERS in your life!

Do a morning check in - Spend a few minutes on waking to check in with your body, recognizing any anxiety or tension.  If you can be more aware of the visceral side of stress by taking a moment to see where we feel, this means we are listening to our body and what it needs rather than just trying to push past uneasy emotions.

Upgrade your moments of rest - We all need a certain amount of space and quiet in the mind.  Try  not to succumb to those periods of rest or downtime by picking up that phone, scrolling through social media, watching TV or playing computer games.  Instead, take that time to stop and notice the world around you!

Exercise in nature - Even just small amounts of outdoor physical activity can have a positive impact on our overall health and wellbeing.  Exercise increases the production of endorphins, those happy hormones, by alleviating symptoms of depression.

Make your walk mindful - If you can take time to focus on each of your senses as you walk, noticing what you can see, hear, feel, taste and smell.  Mindful walking can both improve your mood and your sleep quality, reduce stress and boost life satisfaction whether you are walking in nature or an urban area.

Take micro breaks - And realize that a short break is better than no break at all.  No time for a full ten minute meditation break, then simply close your eyes and take five deep breaths.  Five to ten minutes of deep breathing or guided meditation can calm your nervous system, lower levels of cortisol - the stress hormone - and improve focus.  Meditation trains your brain to handle stress better by allowing you to gently close overwhelming mental tabs and reopen them mindfully when ready, reducing the mental noise that leads to feeling overwhelmed.

Minimize blood sugar fluctuations - The problem is that blood-sugar fluctuations can worsen anxiety, stress and mood swings.  To help keep your blood-sugar balanced, aim for a diet rich in protein and healthy fats, seeds and olive oil while avoiding sugar, processed foods and simple carbohydrates.

Do a daily declutter - Unfortunately, clutter can give our brains more to process, negatively affect our attention and increase stress.  If we can adopt small daily habits to reduce clutter, we can alleviate stress and avoid that great big clear out.

Take a regular holidays from social media - Too much screen time and engaging with social media can aggravate stress.   Try to incorporate time away from social media into your daily routine.  How about an hour or two when that phone is out of sight while you spend time doing a hobby you enjoy.  You might go on to stretch time away to a full day or longer on a regular basis!

Do a nightly wardrobe check - If you can spend a couple of minutes tidying any chairs or other places where you tend to just pile up your clothes.  Return any out of place items to their proper spots, setting aside any for washing or mending.  This quick habit keeps your clothes closet organized so that getting dressed in the morning is easier - and prevents clothing clutter from building up.  It can be the ideal time to put out your outfit for the next day, reducing any stress in that morning rush.

Cultivate calm before sleep - by firstly ensuring enough quality sleep.  This can be difficult to achieve if the mind is still restless at bedtime.  Every day around ninety minutes before bedtime, slow things down and try to relax in your mind, your body and living environment.  Get into the habit of listening to calming music, reading a relaxing book or having a soothing warm soak in the bath.

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SOURCES:

 Glimmers: what they are, why they matter, and 5 ways to find them — Calm Blog