A friend of mine sent me an email today about how he has a hard time relaxing. He said, "How can I justifiably relax when I could always be doing more/better?" This is a sentiment I can completely relate to. I come from a long line of worriers. I have convinced myself that if I'm not worrying, I'm slacking somehow.I guess I think worrying will keep me in a constant state of motivation, keeping me focused on my goals. But let's be honest, worrying doesn't work that way for the most part. It saps our energy and steals our down time. I have to make an effort to relax and take deep breaths from time to time. I'm no professional when it comes to relaxing but here are some things I've tried:
1. Take a bath - I rarely do this but I took a bath last week. It was so relaxing I almost fell asleep in the bathtub. Would I have drowned or would I have woken up when I started choking? That was the thought that got me out of the bathtub. Then I took a shower, which I always do after baths because I feel like I have to wash the bath off. Does anyone else do that?
2. Picture a happy place - This one works for me for awhile until I start wishing I was at that place instead of where I am. It's short lived. But good for a quick fix.
3. Read a book - Reading a good book can be very relaxing. But you have to choose the right book. I just finished an amazing book called Listening is an act of love. It's one of the best books I've read in awhile but it's a total tear jerker (in a good way). I spent every night for the last ten or so nights crying right before going to sleep which was just not relaxing. I think it's time to read a Murder, She Wrote mystery again. She never (well, rarely) makes me cry.
4. Sing along to music - Yes. I love this one. As long as I'm in the privacy of my own car. Of course the problem with this is learning the words to songs. For example, in "We built this city" I thought the line "knee deep in the hoopla" was "knee deep in the goomba" and the line, "Someone's always playing corporation games" was "someone's always saying Preparation H." I didn't get it but I sang it anyway. I thought maybe Starship was making money off product placement or something.
So those are my tips for relaxing. What works for you?
Oh and PS, I'm in round TWO of the blogger brawl on Monday! Come back for a a link! I need your votes! (Sorry about all the exclamation points!)
23 comments:
Relaaax, don't do iiiiiiiiitttttt....
Um, I'm so exhausted. I haven't relaxed enough this week!
I breath deeply. Imagine burying roots from my feet deep into the earth and then imagine rays of gold sunlight coming from heaven into my head.
or
sometimes while breathing deeply I concentrate on the tip of my nose for about a minute or so and then imagine it falling off and hitting the ground.
Oh, I think we might be twins...
My cabin has a larger-than-average size tub with air jets... This has led to an addiction for bubble baths. I totally have to shower after as well.
I love singing along with music at the top of my lungs in the car. It almost makes me sad when someone else drives with me, because I can't sing!
I love Psych. :)
I'm so glad you put that picture of Ross on this post! I love that episode - the shirt is so ridiculous!
I also shower after a bath-otherwise I don't quite feel clean enough. That actually reminds me of another Friends episode where Monica is trying to convince Chandler that baths are relaxing, and he says, "But you're just sitting there, stewing in your own filth!" (To which Monica responds, "How dirty do you think I am?!")
I picture happy places, too, and will often make a list of what's worrying me (and why), then put the list away and try to move forward without the worries. Meditation also works for me to a certain extent.
And I LOVE the new quote!!! One of my fave episodes.
Who likes to swim in their own filth and then not clean it off? I always have at least a quick rinse off after a bath.
Honestly, I have had panic attacks for 2 years now and some ways i relax is: when i feel myself getting worked up (this is the truth, no lies) I say "HEATHER! STOP! SNAP OUT OF IT!" Sometimes i mouth the words with a fierce expression on my face. It Helps.
I read Archie Comics
I organize things. It helps me find peace when things are in order.
I pay the kids 50 cents to brush my hair. Who doesn't like to have their hair brushed.
The bath is a classic. A massage is good if you can find someone who'll do it. And for some reason just going outside seems to help.
I definitely take a shower after a bath. I love how sleepy I feel after a bath- it's the perfect mood for napping.
I like all the same things you do for relaxing. I also like to go for a walk or a bike ride on a sunny day.
Heather just gave me a reason to start having kids!!! I love getting my hair brushed. Thanks Heather!
Love the picture of Ross - one of my favorite episodes!
I love singing in the car, even if I screw the words more often than I care to admit.
Found you through Follow Friday and now follow. Have a great day!
I relax by closing my eyes, listening to my favorite musicians and go to another place in my mind. I also relax with a good massage or back scratching from my DH!
Stop by and visit me when you have a chance.
http://herroyaljoaness.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the tips. Following by on GFC. Hope you'll stop by and follow our chaos at http://www.amundsenhouseofchaos.com/ultimate-blog-party-2010/
Have a great weekend.
Happy Friday Follow! Hope you'll follow back! Have a great weekend!
Happy Friday Follow! Just kidding. I don't even really know what that means. This is a real comment regarding what you actually wrote ;)
Reading a book makes me sleepy, which is relaxing in its own way. I find Mario Bros 3 to be the ultimate relaxation technique (but any vintage video game will do)
1. I always rinse after a bath
2. I especially go into Ludington thoughts when I am in the dentist chair.
3. Reading is a great escape. If I'm too tired to pick up a book, I make up my own story as I am [hopefully]drifting off to sleep.
4. My children taught me a long time ago not to sing out loud ("Don't sing, mommy, don't sing") so I only do it when I am alone and then I don't remember a lot of the words. But, boy, do I know harmonies.
Happy Friday Follow.
I think you reached 100 followers; there should be a celebration! Maybe cake, I have not forgotten.
I relax at the movies. Not at home but at the movie theater. It's a great escape.
An admirer from the distance. ;)
Hmm....a cake? That sounds good. Although I'm honestly not sure how a cake can be mailed. ;)
I've found there are few things a hot shower can't sure.
Hi Elizabeth. What is "Friday Follow"? Sounds like SPAM to me. Please feel free to delete insincere comments. Anyways... (and I know it's "anyway"). So I went on a long walk today. I played video games. I took a bath and I showered after. Now I'm at Starbucks and my friend gave me a free hot chocolate with peppermint and whipped cream and chocolate curls on top; really yummy. Now I'm going to hang out and read Alice in Wonderland.
I feel kinda relaxed. ;-)
Elizabeth Downie, you are one of the funniest people I know! I love the song about Preparation H! Whenever I have a bad day, I use your blog as therapy and I'm laughing in no time. I hope to see you in Michigan at some point this summer (my free time in July and August has just become wide open...guess why?) Keep up the great blogging!
Britt - I would LOVE to see you this summer! I really hope you can make it to Michigan at some point! :) Keep me updated!!
McKenna and I usually find a big grassy hill and then just roll down it. She wanted to try it in barrels, but there was a visibility issue. Wrapping yourself in an old blanket, however, keeps the grass stains away if you're wearing your "pretties" that day (pretties = your nice clothes).
A soak in a hot jacuzzi. Ahhhh Thanks for participating in Friday Follow. Rita @ One 2 Try.
What I do to relax is get a manicure. Helps get your mind of of things. Another thing I do to relax is dancing (although I am not good at it) I love it! I get to listen to music and relieve the stress on the dance floor or my dorm! hehe.
And then Chandler ends up loving baths and has the candles and bubble bath, etc. Classic. You have to at least rinse off after a bath I mean, u go in dirty and then your laying in it. A lot of times I shower/wash my hair first so I'm clean and then I take a bath, works way better.
When I really need to relax like Frankie, I listen to hypnosis tapes for sleep, or just try typing relaxation in youtube, the rainforest works like a charm.
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