Relaxation is a great way to help reduce the bad effects of stress. I talked about stress being all around us in my last blog. Click here to read more.
It sounds simple and obvious that relaxation helps reduce stress but trying to relax everything from body to mind is not as easy as it seems. It is, however, necessary to help Create A New Beautiful And Courageous Existence.
Relaxing can be difficult at the best of times
We can all think of relaxing the body. The saying “A change is as good as a rest” holds true up to a point and is what most of us think of as relaxation. Lying on a beach in the sun is a good example of this. Unfortunately for most of us that only happens for a couple of weeks a year if we’re lucky. Even that can be stressful depending on where and how you go.
Relaxing the mind most of us don’t even think about as we assume vegging in front of the TV does that for us. We need to work at both to be able to relax the mind and properly relax the body.
General Relaxation (the body)
As I said we’re fairly good at relaxing in the evening – although mainly snuggling on the sofa with the dogs. This is probably not best way of relaxing. Vegging is good for a while and then becomes a hard habit to break.
In the future, as in starting next week, we’re going to
- limit number of evenings spent watching the TV even if the dogs like it. Even documentaries & natural history (a Duval favourite) is still watching TV.
- Instead we’re going to read more, finish our jigsaw, play cribbage and look at things to learn.
“Man is so made that he can only find relaxation from one kind of labor by taking up another.”
Anatole France
Although this may sound counter intuitive, we are going to do more exercise. Remembering to exercise like a tortoise though. To read that blog please click here. Exercise is also a good way of relaxing, it’s one of the reasons why it is so beneficial. I used to go for a run with my Opo (buddy/work colleague) most lunchtimes when I was in the Army. We would talk all the way round, be it about work or what we were doing that evening/weekend.
Talking about work bits might also sound counter intuitive as surely that could be stressful. So, let me explain. The work bits made the afternoons more productive. We’d already sorted what we were doing whilst on our run. We got back to our desks and DID the work rather than PLANNED the work. Afternoons were a lot less stressful. Doing the planning whilst running allowed us the time to think without the distractions of being in the work environment (no phones or emails or bosses). It also allowed a physical release for any tensions/exasperations that were happening. So yes, it was in relaxing.
Nicci and I have continued this practice. We frequently strategize and bounce ideas around whilst walking. We can’t run because Nicci NEVER runs: the pain in her knees have never allowed her to do more than a forced march. Nicci much prefers the soak in a warm bubble bath as her form of relaxation.
On Wednesday I will be sharing the second part of this blog when I will be focusing on relaxation of the mind and spirit. In the meantime, for some great ideas on how to relax the body and mind click here.
Practice makes perfect
It’s all well and good writing about things in theory: however, we need to start applying what we learn. Look at ways of relaxing the body in whatever ways suits you best, try something different as it may add to the arsenal of options open to you.
To help you keep track of all your work for the daily activities mentioned, we have created a Monthly Diary for you to record your progress. To download your copy of “My January Canbace Diary” please click here.
Be kind to yourself …
In CANBACE friendship!
If anything I have written resonates I’d love to hear from you in the comments. I appreciate that this can be a difficult subject to speak openly about. If you don’t want me to publish your comment on the website, please let me know. I will keep your words private.
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