Making Time to Relax
There is a wonderful saying that the
busier you are, the more time you
need to spend meditating. Many people use the explanation of being too busy as
an excuse for not meditating but the busier you are, the more you need to
meditate to calm your mind and provide the mental break you need in order to
keep going. If you don’t want to meditate, just taking 5 or 10 minutes out of
your busy day twice a day to focus on your breathing will be of great benefit.
Perhaps you can find the opportunity to do some deep breathing exercises on the
bus on your way to and from work or in your lunch break.
Setting boundaries is also incredibly
important and is something many of us struggle with. So that means not taking
work home with you or at least having a sensible cut-off time if this is
necessary and not checking emails or taking work calls in the evenings. Even
socially or with family, have a clear idea of what you can and cannot commit to
and assert that when others try to over-step the mark. Some ‘down time’ alone
in the evenings is essential for many people to help them process and let go of
the day. If this is you, make time for this in your schedule.
Write it Down
Journalling is now regarded as a very
beneficial form of personal therapy. Buy a notebook specifically for this purpose
and write down how you feel as a way of exorcising stressful thoughts and
emotions from your mind. Try to find at least 10 minutes in the evening to
write about the events of the day and how they made you feel. Be completely
honest –this is your opportunity to privately vent your anger, sadness, hurt
and pain.
Create Time for Activities you Enjoy
Taking up a hobby such as painting,
reading, furniture restoration or jewellery making can help combat stress. A
hobby can calm your emotions and boost your self-esteem. Being totally absorbed
in a creative pursuit can actually be a form of light meditation – you are so engrossed
in what you are doing that you lose all awareness of what is going on around
you, so you have managed to switch off without even trying. It is essential to
find an activity that you really enjoy and only do it when you feel like it;
otherwise it will just become another obligation.
Spending time with your family and
seeing friends are also excellent ways to switch off from the stresses of work
and the daily grind – as long as you don’t spend the whole time talking about
work! If possible, do something new or different to ring the changes and
provide new experiences. This will help you feel you are moving forward rather
than being stuck in the same old routine of groundhog day.
Take Regular Exercise
Exercise is an excellent way to reduce
stress. It relieves muscular tension, improves health, boosts wellbeing through
the release of endorphins and helps you sleep better. Walking or running are
great for clearing the mind, especially if you can get out into the
countryside. If you can’t get to a gym, step exercises on the bottom stairs are
better than nothing. Pounding, punching and kicking are great for getting the
stress out of your body. Always choose a form of exercise you enjoy otherwise
you won’t stick with it. Yoga, tai chi and chi kung are great for those wanting
a more holistic approach to exercise. Yoga and Pilates are great for stretching
out the energy channels in the body and releasing tension and energy blocks.
Holistic Therapy
Making time for a relaxing therapeutic
treatment such as Reiki, Reflexology or a back massage once a month can provide
well-needed ‘me-time’ and boost your physical health as well. Book your next
appointment when you attend your first treatment as appointments are always
easier to stick to when they are already in your diary.
Plan a Free Day
When you’re feeling really low in
energy and your batteries need recharging, it’s time to take a day off and spend
it doing exactly what you want. Sleep in as late as you like, go for a walk,
visit a friend or do an activity of your choosing, watch a film or read a book,
then have a nice relaxing bubble bath before bed.
Adopt a Balanced Diet
Stress and exhaustion can have a
detrimental effect on the immune system which in turn makes you more
susceptible to colds and other viruses. Constant stress depletes your body’s
store on nutrients and leaves you less able to cope with a busy, demanding
lifestyle. The nutrients most affected by stress are vitamins B, C and E and
the minerals magnesium, zinc, potassium and sodium. You can address this by
ensuring that you have your 5 a day and incorporating more fruit, salad and
vegetables into your diet and by reducing processed food, fizzy drinks, cakes
and biscuits. Taking a good multivitamin is also an option if you’re feeling
run down.
Helen
Shortland is a Reiki Master Healer/Teacher, Meditation Teacher and Holistic
Therapist based at 15 Wheeler Gate in Nottingham city centre. Helen offers
several healing treatments such as Reiki, Angelic Reiki, Faery Reiki, Angel
Therapy and Fairy Blessing Guided Journey, as well as Usui Reiki and Faery
Reiki training courses. She has been on the spiritual path for 15 years and has
extensive knowledge of healing and the healing journey. For further
information about her Reiki courses, therapies and workshops, please visit her
website http://helenshortland.com or visit and ‘like’ her Facebook page Helen Shortland
Holistics & Enchantment.
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