Forgotten How To Relax

Has this ever happened to you? You work and work and work and when you finally take a day off, you don’t know what to do with yourself.

My office closed Monday, so I took off Friday to make a 4-day weekend. But now that Friday is here, I find myself stressing about how best to use my time. It’s not often I get the house to myself.

Do I take a nap on the couch? Or will I feel guilty if I waste my day bumming around?

Do I run errands? Or will I feel like I misused my time off if I do something productive?

Do I watch TV? Read a book? Exercise? Write? Get a pedicure? Walk on the beach? Sit in my yard and have a glass of wine?

I’ve forgotten how to relax.

Quick Stress Fix

When I get home from work, the muscles around my neck are shoulders are usually tight after sitting at a desk all day. This only gets compounded by driving in traffic.

Here is a quick and pleasant way to relieve tension. You’ll need a bowl of warm water, a wash cloth and your favorite calming essential oil. Lavender and camomile are best.

Fill a medium-sized bowl with warm water. Add a few drops of essential oil and swish around with your hands. Put in a wash cloth and soak for a minute. Then ring out and apply to face and neck. Breathe deeply. The warmth and soothing scent will help relax your muscles. The cloth will cool off quickly, so reapply a few times.

These little moments alone can really help. Try adding some relaxing music.

How To Cure The Post-Holiday Blues

There is always such a mad rush at holiday season. When the day finally arrives, it ends so quickly. Then there is always the big let-down. What to do?

Allow yourself a day of rest. Spend some quiet time with your closest family members. Stay indoors. Don’t even think about shopping or returning gifts.

Make a nice pot of tea and enjoy your holiday treats in the quiet of your own home.

That is my recommendation for holiday bliss.

Peace,
Grace Magazine

Stress Release: Power Napping

A short nap in the middle of the day can reduce stress and invigorate you for the remainder of the day.

Quick napping for 10 to 30 minutes a day can relieve stress on your heart and increase your effectiveness at the office.

Of course, it’s not always possible to nap at work. But no one will miss you if you sneak off to the ladies room for a few minutes. Close your eyes for 5 quiet minutes and try meditating as a substitute.

Instead of reaching for a midday coffee, try the oppositie approach. Shut down for a few.

Stress Release: Talk To Yourself and Listen

I enjoy reading my horoscope, especially as written by Jonathan Cainer.

In today’s post, he wrote about feeling like we are talking to ourselves.

Then he asks Virgos (my sign) that if I really were talking to myself, what would I say?

“How honest would you be? Be brave.
Give it a try.”

So, I suggest that we all try talking to ourselves.

Stand in front of a mirror all by yourself. What do you want to say? As Mr. Cainer suggests, be honest and be brave.

I say:

“Self, you are loved. You are beautiful, graceful, kind, intelligent, hard-working and not as fat as you think.”

What do you say?