Stop Practice

The STOP practice can help you manage stressful situations. It is your secret weapon for staying calm and composed in difficult situations. Once you have mastered the technique, you can shorten or lengthen the exercise yourself depending on the situation.

Transcript

Stop practice.

This is a practice you can use when you are stressed,

Overwhelmed or you just need to prepare yourself for an important meeting or presentation.

There are four phases.

S for stop.

Literally stop what you are doing.

If you are running somewhere,

Stop or if you are sitting,

Just stand up.

T,

Take a breath.

Breathe in and breathe out.

Breathe in to get fresh oxygen into your body and breathe out to give your body a signal that everything is okay.

O,

Observe.

Observe what is around you.

How many people are there?

What's the color of the floor?

If you are outside,

How many trees are there?

Observe it.

Observe also what's going on inside yourself.

What is going on inside your body?

If there are any physical sensations or emotions,

Just observe them and describe what do you see.

Imagine that you are writing a sticker.

Like if you have calm hands,

Write calm hands and stick it on your hands virtually.

Or if you have stiff neck or whatever else.

Observe and describe it.

P,

Proceed.

Before you proceed to the activity you planned,

Just think for yourself.

What is important for me right now?

And if you need a sip of water,

Coffee,

Short walk or just call your friends,

Do it before you start the activity.

Stop practice is an invisible practice.

It is going on only in your head.

No one else can spot it.

So it is for you to keep your stress under control,

Relax and prepare for your best performance.