Most of us get days that are harder to deal with than others and all of us have stress in our lives at some point or another.

There can be many factors that may contribute to our stress and anxiety levels; our health or the health of a loved one, money/debt, housing, family & relationships, looniness and even body image.

Here's 3 great and quick ways to manage a moment of calm in your life.

#1 - The teaspoon trick!

This first method might sound bonkers but don't knock it until you try it! Rub the back of a teaspoon or desert spoon over the centre of your forehead, in a slow circular motion, for a few seconds. This is the location of your brain reflex/pressure point. The smooth, coolness of the spoon against your skin will have a calming effect on your brain reflex.

Quick way #2 - Tapping or EFT

Quick way 2! Use your fingertips to tap 5-7 times each on the top of your head for about 30 secs.

Tapping or Emotional Freedom Technique requires you to focus on the negative emotion at hand: a fear or anxiety, a bad memory, an unresolved problem, or anything that’s bothering you.

The top of your head has meridian points. Tapping on these meridian points – while concentrating on accepting and resolving the negative emotion – will access your body’s energy, restoring it to a balanced state. Read about the science behind tapping HERE.

#3 - Press under and up!

Our 3rd quick way to reduce stress, is using your thumbs, press under the centre of your cheek bones (the green dots on the diagram) and push up towards the top of your head. Breathe IN whilst you push up & breathe OUT to release your fingers from your face. Do this x 3.

These reflex points are your Solar Plexus. Your Solar Plexus, is a compilation of nerves that is located in your abdomen near the diaphragm and behind your aorta. This nerve center is responsible for the functioning of your abdominal organs like the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder as well as helping to regulate your body's stress response.

Stress & anxiety are common causes of Solar Plexus pain. The Solar Plexus is tied to the adrenal glands and the lungs. This is our 'fight or flight' response to stress and often results in poor or rapid breathing. This can lead to pain or other gastric symptoms like nausea or vomiting during episodes of anxiety.

If we ignore stress and anxiety, our sympathetic nervous system kicks in which is our 'fight or flight' response. This then sets the body on a pathway of high alert. Adrenaline and cortisol are pumped around our bodies to protect our major organs- in our words your body is responding to danger!

By taking control of our Solar Plexus breathing, our adrenaline & cortisol will reduce calming our feelings of stress and anxiety. By practising this exercise daily, it will encourage your parasympathetic nervous system to stay in control. That's our 'rest and restore'.

And BREATHE......