Sunday 6 November 2011

Relax, switch off and feel good!

Whilst on my recent holiday I wrote a few words I would like to share with you.

I find myself sitting on the beach, in the sunshine, listening to the rolling waves, knowing that today is the last day of my holiday. I have been very relaxed until now and I can’t help but think about work and the tasks that I need to deal with when I get back.

Many people go on holiday and for the first few days find themselves worrying about the work they left behind and spend the last few days thinking about the work, issues and stress they have to come back to. Therefore, much of their holiday is taken up by worry and stress. But why do we worry about things that are gone and we cannot change, or things that have not happened yet? Why do we preoccupy our mind with worrying about the past or the future rather than enjoying the NOW? Even if we spend 1 hour a day thinking and worrying about something we have no control over at that particular time, by the end of the week we would have spent nearly 1 working day of needless worry, we would lose 365 hours a year that we could use much more productively. Over a few years, that is months of wasted time that causes us more unnecessary stress and unhappiness. Worry has never solved anything and as Leo Buscaglia used to say “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy”.

So if for some of us it takes a while to reach a state of relaxation which then gets cut short even on holiday, a thing which should supposedly represent relaxation, how are we supposed to find peace and relaxation during every day life?

A well rested and refreshed mind is much more productive, and this is something which can be easily overlooked.

What can we do to be able to just switch off and relax when we wish to? Here are some suggestions that help me become more relaxed and switch off:

Breathing is essential not only because your brain requires an adequate amount of oxygen for clear thinking, your muscles need it for vitality and your body releases 70% of its toxins through breathing but also because changing your breathing is one of the quickest and most effective ways of changing how you feel. Sitting quietly and allowing your breathing to become calmer and slower relaxes your body and can produce a calmer mental, physical and emotional state within a few minutes.

Take time to think about what causes you stress. Build your awareness and pay attention to different signs, situations, reasons that trigger your worry. Make a list of what you can do to be in control of your emotions and stay calm and relaxed.  

Find and decide on a place, a room or location which will be your place of relaxation so every time you enter your special place, associate it with “switching off time”. Eventually your subconscious will also accept it which will make it easier to relax.

Make and take time for yourself. During “your” time do what makes you happy and relaxed, whether it’s pampering, meditating to control your mind chatter or spending time with people who help you switch off. Do what works for you. When you do what you enjoy, your mind will be concentrating on positive experience and things that give you pleasure rather than on negative emotions.

Choose a specific day and time for relaxation. Stick to it, make it a routine. Don’t feel guilty if you have a project to finish and instead you are taking time to relax. At the end of the day you will be more productive if you have clear and relaxed mind.

Do not let others destroy or distract your down time. Let them know that during your relaxing time you are not available. If you have a family and kids who are likely to interrupt you while you are relaxing and “recharging your batteries”, talk to them about a possible method of letting them know that you would like to not be disturbed, for example: put a sign on the door saying “I am relaxing” to avoid others coming into the room or being noisy. Do the same for others, respect their relaxation time.

The above are just suggestions not rules; however it is important to be aware that sometimes we may not give ourselves enough time to recuperate to give us more energy and make us feel good, so remember to take some guilt free time for yourself!