GPS Guide: How Alena Hall Finds Her Zen

10 Ways To Find Your Zen
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yoga outdoors

The stress and strain of constantly being connected can sometimes take your life -- and your well-being -- off course. GPS For The Soul can help you find your way back to balance.

GPS Guides are our way of showing you what has relieved others' stress in the hopes that you will be able to identify solutions that work for you. We all have de-stressing "secret weapons" that we pull out in times of tension or anxiety, whether they be photos that relax us or make us smile, songs that bring us back to our heart, quotes or poems that create a feeling of harmony, or meditative exercises that help us find a sense of silence and calm. We encourage you to look at the GPS Guide below, visit our other GPS Guides here, and share with us your own personal tips for finding peace, balance and tranquility.

Alena Hall, Editorial Fellow for HuffPost's Third Metric, doesn't only write about the importance of connecting with one's inner self -- she personally searches for new ways to live more mindfully each day. When she's in need of a little headspace, she turns to a few activities and memories to help escape the hustle and bustle of New York City. Check out her personal GPS guide to finding your zen in the slideshow below.

Alena Hall's GPS Guide
Take A Walk At Sunrise(01 of10)
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The world can be incredibly tranquil before the workday begins. I love how a morning stroll through that stillness offers plenty of space for both me and my thoughts. (credit:Alena Hall/The Huffington Post)
Remember This Face(02 of10)
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While I can't be with my best friend every day, a simple glance at this photograph instantly calms my mind and brings a smile to my face. When we are reunited, there's nothing like her unconditional love to help me live in the moment. (credit:Alena Hall/The Huffington Post)
Swing Along(03 of10)
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I only get to sit on these swings a few times each year when I return to the rural mountains of North Carolina. However, this photograph is a constant reminder how good it feels to touch back to my roots. (credit:Alena Hall/The Huffington Post)
Breathe In Salty Sea Air(04 of10)
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It only takes one deep inhale and exhale along the oceanside to center my mind. Even when squeaks of sea gulls and crashes of waves are replaced by the sounds of city traffic, the calming effect of that salty air remains. (credit:Alena Hall/The Huffington Post)
Go For A Run(05 of10)
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When my rambling mind has me feeling too frenetic, I take to the streets, parks and paths of New York City to work through my thoughts, one at a time. The Central Park reservoir is one of my favorite spots. (credit:Alena Hall/The Huffington Post)
Gaze Into A Carolina Sky(06 of10)
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As any other UNC-Chapel Hill graduate will tell you, nothing beats a Carolina blue sky (with the exception of a NCAA basketball championship). Whenever I'm home, I capture at least one new view to take with me wherever I go next. (credit:Alena Hall/The Huffington Post)
Take A Bikram Yoga Class(07 of10)
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While resistant to the idea at first, I now practice Bikram yoga at least once a week. It's the perfect 90-minute combination of meditation and physical exertion that resets my mind and body in a way nothing else can. (credit:Gettystock)
Have A Quiet Night In(08 of10)
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Ending a hectic day with a cup of herbal tea, an aromatherapy candle and some thoughtful reading is my secret to a good night's sleep. This trifecta makes my stress disappear. (credit:Alena Hall/The Huffington Post)
Get Cozy(09 of10)
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Snuggling up in front of a glowing, cracking fire and feeling the warmth reach my cheeks makes the world stand still. I feel like I could stare into the dancing flames forever. (credit:Alena Hall/The Huffington Post)
Meditate In A Peaceful Place(10 of10)
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Sometimes it takes getting out of the big city for me to reconnect with my inner self. With relatives a short bus ride away, I love meditating into tranquil views like this during a short weekend trip. (credit:Alena Hall/The Huffington Post)

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