Stress Buster Exercise

Begin by gathering up a few sheets of paper (preferably unlined typing paper), a couple of pens or markers and a stable work surface.

With a pen or marker in each hand, begin drawing from a central point on the page and allow each hand to draw in a mirror image fashion, like the image at right. Be sure to not think too much about what your hands are doing...simply allow it to take shape. If you do find that you are thinking too much, focus your attention of how the pens or markers feel as they are moving across the paper or imagine that they are dancing together.

On a clean sheet of paper - or a clean section of the paper you are drawing on - switch from drawing a mirror image with both hands to drawing 'the same as'...that is, whatever your left hand is drawing allow your right hand to draw the same thing. So if one hand is drawing from the top to the bottom of the page, the other hand is doing the same thing.

Again, on a clean sheet of paper - or a clean section of the paper you are drawing on - switch from drawing 'the same as' and simply allow each hand to go wherever it wants on the page. This may feel uncomfortable at first but if you acknowledge it and then imagine that your two hands are playing and dancing. Now, notice how you are feeling. Do you feel less stressed? more relaxed? Now carry on and have a creative day.