3-Minute Stress Management: Reduce Stress With This Short Activity

Summary

In this video, Emma Mcadam offers a quick three-minute exercise to help reduce stress, focusing on physical relaxation techniques. She guides viewers through a series of movements, starting with self-assessment of physical tightness, followed by deep breathing, shoulder shrugs, head tilts, and arm and leg shaking to release tension. The session concludes with a gentle forward fold and a reassessment of the tension level. Emma also mentions Better Help, an online counseling service, as a sponsor of the video, providing a discount for first-time users.

Takeaways

• 🧘 Stress is the physical manifestation of anxiety, causing muscle tension and other physiological responses.
• 🤔 Worry is related to thoughts, whereas stress is linked to how our body reacts to perceived threats.
• 🆘 The fight-flight-freeze response is triggered by the brain when it perceives a threat, such as a tiger or an impending deadline.
• 🧠 We can train our mind and body to remain calm by engaging in activities that regulate the nervous system.
• 💆‍♀️ It's beneficial to perform stress-reducing activities frequently throughout the day to maintain a sense of calm.
• 🛋 For those in manual labor jobs, stress reduction might involve resting, whereas for desk-bound workers, incorporating movement is more effective.
• 📝 Start by rating your physical tightness on a scale from 0 to 10 to gauge your initial stress level.
• 💨 Engage in physical movements like shaking out your arms and legs to alleviate tension and stress.
• 🤸‍♂️ A gentle forward fold can help release tension and is a simple exercise that can be done at a desk or standing.
• 😌 After completing the exercises, re-evaluate your physical tightness to see if there has been a reduction in stress.
• 👍 Better Help is mentioned as a sponsor, offering professional and affordable online counseling services starting at around $65 per week.

Q & A

Who is the speaker in the video?

The speaker in the video is Emma Mcadam.

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is about reducing stress in approximately three minutes.

What is the difference between stress and worry according to the video?

Stress is the aspect of anxiety that we feel in our body, while worry is all about thoughts.

What is the physiological response to perceived danger mentioned in the video?

The physiological response to perceived danger is the fight-flight-freeze response triggered by the brain.

How can we train our mind and body to be calm according to the video?

We can train our mind and body to be calm by doing little activities that regulate the nervous system, preferably frequently throughout the day.

What does the video suggest for people with manual labor jobs to reduce stress?

For people with manual labor jobs, stress reduction may look like resting on the couch.

What type of activity is recommended for people who spend a lot of time at their computer to reduce stress?

For people who spend a lot of time at their computer, incorporating movement is suggested to reduce stress.

What is the first step suggested in the video to start reducing stress?

The first step suggested is to rate your degree of physical tightness on a scale from 0 to 10.

What is the purpose of shaking out your arms and legs as described in the video?

Shaking out your arms and legs is a way to incorporate movement and release tension in the body, which can help reduce stress.

What does the video suggest to do after shaking out your arms and legs?

After shaking out your arms and legs, the video suggests standing up straight, feeling your feet on the floor, and doing a gentle forward fold.

How does the video conclude the stress reduction exercise?

The video concludes the exercise by asking viewers to rate their tightness again on the same scale from 0 to 10 and to share their thoughts in the comments if it did not work.

What additional service is mentioned in the video and what does it offer?

The video mentions Better Help, which provides professional, affordable online counseling starting at around $65 a week.

What is the special offer for viewers if they use the speaker's link for Better Help?

If viewers use the speaker's link, they can get 10% off their first month with Better Help.