10 ways to relax
It is easy to neglect yourself. Self-care is often not a priority especially when life has us quite busy already. It is important to make and take time for yourself, it is not being selfish to do so. The saying “if you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else” is quite true. While it may be possible to survive and push through when you neglect yourself it is not sustainable and does not help your overall well-being.
Often, we spend time taking care of everyone else whether it is children, a spouse, aging parents, or anyone else. We feel responsible and make sure we do what is within our power to get them what we deem necessary to keep them healthy and happy, while neglecting our own health and wellbeing. This is wonderful but it can be draining if you are constantly giving to everyone else. A negative impact on you due to neglecting yourself will result in you not being able to give of yourself to everyone else as you were. You may end up ill or exhausted and will then be forced into caring only for yourself. You can make caring for yourself a part of your daily routine and maintain your health and vitality so that you can continue enjoying sharing your time with others.
Taking time to care for you is very important to your health. It impacts you mentally, physically, and emotionally – all aspects of you. Stress is a huge impact point and in manifests itself in all of these areas from where you physically hold tension, to your mental clarity, and your emotional balance. If you allow yourself to be neglected and become run down, your general immunity may also suffer. This can lead to potential illnesses in addition to being tired and less resilient. All of this combines to make life less enjoyable and you less happy than optimal.
Taking time for you can have many different forms. This may mean getting a massage once a week, taking a relaxing bath after a hard day, watching your favorite movie, drinking a cup of tea in a quiet room, walking through a forest, lounging in a hammock, paint or draw, or any other activity that helps you relax and recharge. Sometimes you may do one thing for yourself, and it is enough and sometimes you may do something each day or multiple things in one day. Take the time to do what you feel you need to on a regular basis. This may change depending on the day, week, month, etc., and that is perfectly fine.
Here are 10 ways to relax:
- Enjoy a cup of hot tea (substitute hot chocolate/coffee/your beverage of choice).
- Reading a book/article that interests you or enjoying a podcast
- Get a massage.
- Walk in nature.
- Workout.
- Do yoga.
- Meditate.
- Watch a movie.
- Catch up with a friend/loved one.
- Soak your feet (I like this soak).
You may have other interests and activities that help relax you and allow you to focus on the day, maintain your health and enjoy the time you spend assisting others. You are in control, do not lose it.