Just gotta roll with it…

---

Though grateful to possess the curious, open, wandering being that is my mind, I sometimes fall victim to its equally uncanny ability to overanalyze.

And spiral.

(Not a great combination for someone who is still learning how to not hang back in the past or lurk too far ahead into the it’s-anyone’s-guess-future.)

For this, I’ve incorporated tai chi, meditation, yoga, magnesium, rose, naps (or any combination of the aforementioned) into my routine in hopes of keeping my brain running at a more even pace. All of which have proven very helpful. But, with an adventurous mind also comes an unwavering need to keep discovering and experimenting.

So it was in yet another of my deep dives in search of calm that I discovered acupressure rings.

Made of coiled metal -- and plated in gold, silver and copper -- acupressure rings take a cue from traditional acupressure methodology by applying pressure to certain energy channels, or meridians, that run throughout the body. (In this case, in your fingers.) And, as a result of such stimulation, one might experience a boost in energy, as well as the ability to concentrate and/or relax.

Instead of simply wearing the rings as adornment (which, I advise against, in that the tips of my fingers began to flush after doing this for just a few minutes), the beauty and power of these acupressure rings is best realized as they’re being rolled up and down each of your fingers.

Now, I was not able to confirm if the different colored rings bore different benefits, so I did a little experimenting of my own -- starting with the copper ring, and just as I was about to start a meeting via Zoom (which still manages to incite a little anxiety, no matter how many times I’ve attended them, so perfect timing). Truth be told, the ring flew off my pointer finger as soon as the call began. (Because, springs!) So after a stealthy reach to the floor to retrieve it, I made sure the ring made its way down to the bottom knuckle of that finger. And as I spoke, I started to slowly roll the ring up to my nail bed, and back down again.

The triangular-shaped coils sat tight against my skin, but not uncomfortably so. And, during the course of my 23-minute call, they seemed to help relax me. Meaning, I spoke quite naturally and with a more-laid-back-than-even-my-usual delivery. AND -- no joke -- the ring just might have eased the slight headache I sustained as a result of hitting my head on a closet door earlier in the afternoon. Coincidence?

I repeated the above (sans headbang) using both the gold and silver rings -- and though I did not experience anything different as a result, I found that the repeated acupressure-like “massage” continued to keep my mind in a sort-of holding pattern, and dare I say able to focus on the matters at hand (no pun intended).

Here’s a quick and helpful guide on what fingers you might want to “ring up” depending on your needs:

Thumb: Soothes and relaxes.

Index finger: Inspires peace and encourages a clear, fluid mind.

Middle finger: Brings harmony to your spirit.

Ring finger: Promotes feelings of positive energy.

Little finger: Helps you tap into your intuition and stimulates inspiration and inner wisdom.

With promise *almost* as great as an engagement ring, I plan on wearing -- and rolling -- my acupressure rings for a more “well-rounded” self-care regimen.