How to Relax in 3 Easy Steps

June 24, 2009

Do you know how to relax? I don’t mean in theory… like you know what the word means. What I’m asking is, do you know how to actually DO it? In order to answer YES to that question, you need to have successfully relaxed at least once in your life.

The word “relax” is an action verb… it is something you do; in fact, it is something you must choose to do. No one else can make you relax. According to Aristotle, contemplation (simply sitting and thinking) is the highest form of human activity. So not only is relaxing an activity, but it is one we should all strive to master. I wonder how many of us aspire to perfect the art of relaxing? How many of us practice in order to learn to do it well?

I’m guessing not many.

But there are a few out there who strive to do less. There are those of us who have come to realize that being busy all the time is pointless and futile. Some of us know that the key to happiness is not to do more, have more, and be more, but to just be. Sure we still want to achieve things, and have goals in life; but one of our main goals is to have time to enjoy life. Everything else is secondary to that.

For those of you who are trying, here are my three relaxation tips:

1.  Make it a priority

Let’s face it, there are always a million things that still need to be done, or that you could be doing with your time. The only way you will stop everything to relax is if you put “relaxing” on your list of to do activities. In fact, put it somewhere near the top of the list so that you may actually get to it. Treat it like a goal… like training for a marathon, and take it seriously.

2.  Find the right time

This will vary depending on what your work day, family life, duties, responsibilities and hobbies look like. I’m a big fan of schedules that include a siesta. Work for about four hours, then take anywhere from one to four hours off, then get back to work… if you still feel like it. Some countries, like Spain, make it almost impossible NOT to relax during that time, since all the stores close and the towns shut down. I guess they recognize the long-term value of down time.

3.  Choose your method

It is not necessary to sit in a candle-lit bubble bath in order to relax. I happen to like that technique, but it isn’t for everyone. For some people, sitting completely still is akin to torture. They might prefer to relax by running on the beach, hiking in the woods, or floating down a river. Maybe you are into knitting, gardening, reading, baking, or scrapbooking. Whatever it is that nourishes your soul and makes you feel alive, that is what you need to do to relax. I cannot begin to express to you how important it is to de-stress from your busy life.

Yesterday’s post was about my blog. But it was also about ANY relationship that has become toxic or draining. It could be your spouse, your friend, your boss, a coworker, or even your child. Only you can recognize your sources of stress, so it is up to you to know when to set limits to protect yourself and the things you value. By taking breaks to relax and contemplate your life, you are creating an emergency release valve… a time for you to determine whether you are on the right track, and to decide what actions to take if you are not. Knowing how to relax can, literally, save your life.

“Beware the barrenness of a busy life.”  (Socrates)

*

If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it with others.

Tuesdays through Thursdays, comments are closed on Quest for Balance (here’s why). Feel free to contact me directly at:

MyQuestForBalance (at) gmail (dot) com.

Or, if you prefer, you can tweet me @Serene_Balance.

Thanks!!!

Related posts:

1. Remaining Calm in Stressful Situations
2. 10 Things You Should Know About Yourself (aka: “So Long, And Thanks For All The Fish!”)
3. Book Review: Female Brain Gone Insane

Posted in balance, choices, inner peace, present moment, serenity