You’ll face many challenges after a weight loss surgery like Lap Band in North Florida, but one of the biggest may be simply finding time to relax. Though a technique like progressive muscle relaxation can do a great job of reducing your anxieties, it takes some time to do correctly, and you may not have time to spare in the middle of a stressful day.

Fortunately, there are many things we can do to reduce stress quickly. You don’t have to meditate for 20 minutes to ease your mind—with a few on-the-go stress management techniques in your arsenal, you can make it easier to avoid stress-related issues like emotional eating and move on with your day.

Ready for rapid relaxation after gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy or Lap Band in North Florida? Reduce stress in the moment by:

• Visualizing peace. If the place you are is just too stressful, picture yourself somewhere else–or doing something else. Setting your mind’s eye on more relaxing things can replace the current causes of your anxieties with a much more calming mental image. Imagine yourself kicking back on the beach of a picturesque tropical island, or huddled cozily in a blanket by your roaring hearth at home. Try to use as much detail as possible in your visualization for a more convincing daydream.
• Changing your attitude. Is your stressful situation really so bad? Sometimes when we face difficult circumstances, the negative way we think about them can make our anxieties even worse. Instead of dwelling on what went wrong or what will go wrong, focus your mind on something that brings a smile to your face. Your supportive spouse, your fuzzy, adoring pet, your much-anticipated upcoming vacation, the healthy meal you’ll be cooking tonight—all of these images and more can be enough to foster a positive attitude capable of slowing your heart rate and helping you relax.
• Throwing on some tunes. You may already use music to pump yourself up for a workout, but music can have the opposite effect as well. Try putting on your headphones and listening to a soothing song. Though the calming effects of classical music are the most thoroughly researched—studies say that 30 minutes of classical music can calm us as much as 10 mg of Valium—anything you find relaxing can be a big help.

To keep stress under control after weight loss surgery, try combining quick tips like these with more extensive stress management techniques like progressive muscle relaxation. Of course, these aren’t the only strategies that work—how else have you managed stress after gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy or Lap Band in North Florida? Tell us in the comments below!