Question – Gurudev, how to manage stress?
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji – First of all, do you know what stress is? Stress is too much to do and too little time or energy. When we have too much to do with not enough time and energy, then we get stressed. So either you reduce your workload, which doesn’t seem to be a possibility these days, or you increase your time – this is not possible either. So what we are left with is to increase your energy levels.
Now how do we increase our energy levels?
1. The right amount of food – not too much and not too little. A balanced diet with enough carbohydrates and proteins.
2. The right amount of sleep. 6 – 8 hours of sleep, not more not less.
3. Learning some deep breathing exercises – this increases your energy.
4. Few moments of a meditative mind. Few minutes of deep relaxation – conscious deep relaxation is what I would call meditation. A few minutes of meditation can relieve all types of stress. If you meditate in the morning and evening for 15 – 20 minutes, it is good enough. It will keep you going.
Usually, I recommend meals and meditation in the afternoon. In work places when people sit together and meditate for a few minutes and share a meal together, they find it so refreshing and are able to carry on through the day with the same energy which they came to the office with.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar