You've Got to Relax!
By Sara Butler
In daily life, it can be difficult to ever truly relax. Relaxation is often seen as non-productive but in order to really deal with the stress and strain of everyday life, you have to find ways to wind down and relax as a way to help cope. Regular de-stressing is important to your overall health, wellness, and happiness – so you have to find ways to get it done! Here are some ways you can make sure you’re really relaxing!
Unwind Your Body
Life is busy and because of that, the body often becomes a big ball of cortisol and adrenaline, thereby creating muscle tension. You need to work on progressive muscle relaxation techniques in order to take the first step toward total and true relaxation. You can progressively relax by:
- Tensing the muscles in the toes for a count of five
- Relax muscles for a count of 30
- Repeat
Progressively work each body part from your toes all the way up to your head and neck.
Relax on the Way Home
When you get home for the day you need to be in the right frame of mind to truly relax. This means you need to find ways to decompress on your commute. If you take public transportation, don’t check your email or continue to work. Instead, listen to a podcast or your favorite tunes. Read a book. Do what you have to in order to separate yourself from the stresses of the day.
If you drive yourself, you can think about the ways you intend to relax when you get home. Repeat to yourself the things you want to do when you get home, such as cook a nice dinner, take a bubble bath, and so on.
Get Tough with Yourself
If you get home and usually start in on tasks you need to do rather than relax, you need to get tough with yourself. Ask yourself what's the worst that can possibly happen if you don’t take the time to relax when you get home? A week or a year from now, will decluttering your junk drawer have made a big difference in your life? Enough to forego relaxation for your health?
It takes time to learn to relax, but the more you put energy into it, the easier it will become. Work on finding ways to bring relaxation and joy to your life when you can and you may find that the stress of the day automatically starts to melt away.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Spartanburg, S.C.