Bonus points if you opt for a tea brewed with calming herbs, though as Leeds says, “Even mindfully sipping water can be calming.” mindbodygreen’s calm+, for example, is formulated with full-spectrum USDA- and E.U.-certified organic European hemp oil, lavender oil, and ashwagandha root and leaf extract at levels that are scientifically shown in clinical trials to support a brighter mood and up our stress resilience.* It can be taken any time of day or night to take the edge off stressors (consider it a yoga class in a bottle.)* “We can literally lean on our bodies as an effective tool in that de-escalation of stress,” she says—be it through a light jog, a bike ride, or HIIT class. Even if you live in a city, paying a visit to your local park not only gives you some fresh air, but you’re also moving your body and engaging your senses. “When we’re overwhelmed by emotion, it is more difficult to use our prefrontal cortex, the part of our brains in charge of logic, long-term decision making, and complicated thinking,” Leeds explains. So, simple exercises like this help us ease back into logical and calmer thinking. It’s just one of many calming breathwork techniques you can do, but as breathwork instructor Gwen Dittmar previously explained to mbg, it’s “really great for when you’re in a stressful situation and you need to be present but also want to be calm.” And as Leeds notes, “We’re all different, so experimenting in order to identify your shortlist of soothing hacks is going to be the most effective route to returning to relaxation.”
