When I speak about dealing with stress, one of the strategies I share is how your posture can impact your mood. When we are slumped over, either when standing or sitting, our mind takes the cue that we are feeling depleted, stressed, or depressed. By just paying attention to good posture, i.e., sitting or standing up straight, we can actually feel better physically and mentally.
Most of us get stressed when we drive. It is natural to start slumping or jutting our head forward. Next time you get into the driver's seat, sit up straight and adjust the rear-view mirror. When you look in the mirror and see that it isn't adjusted correctly, you will know that your posture has changed. It is your cue to sit up straight. Get in the habit of checking at each red light. Your body will feel more comfortable and you will feel better upon arriving at your destination.
Think of other situations when you get stressed; working, cooking, during difficult conversations, or even looking for a lost object. Remind yourself that feeling stressed doesn't help, it may even make things worse. Take a deep breath, square your shoulders, straighten your back, relax your neck, and fool yourself into feeling better.
