Life has been crazy around here lately.
Stupid crazy.
We’ve just moved to a new house, tackled a whole bunch of renovation projects as we were moving in, had a slew of visitors, and worked full time the whole time.
Oh, and did I forget to mention that the kids were home on summer holidays, PLUS they were home an extra four weeks while their teachers were on strike?
But I’m no the only one. We’re all busy, right?
So I’ve been thinking pretty hard core about how to get my stressed out butt to relax a bit. A week at the spa (or even a weekend) just isn’t in the cards, so I need some ways to relax that you can I every day.
So, viola, the busy woman’s quick start guide to relaxation was born.
Breathing exercises
If you need to unwind and quickly, try a few breathing exercises. Just knowing how to breathe in and out in a deep, rhythmic manner can help you relax in as little as 60 seconds. Take a deep breath, hold it, and slowly count to 10. Let it out and repeat. Do this ten times in a row.
This works wonders for me.
Take time for the little things
When was the last time you had a massage or a pedicure? When was the last time you took a long, hot bath or read a book? Do it today! Even one hour a week doing something that makes you happy can make you feel more relaxed throughout your week.
Write it down
Write out your feelings and thoughts. Studies have shown that this makes people feel better immediately because you get your emotions out on paper where you can read and analyze them, which will help clear your head enough to relax.
Get listy
Make a to-do list of things you need ot accomplish in the day, but do not overwhelm yourself. After you have done an item, mark it off the list and add it to a “done” list. At the end of the day, read your “done” list to see how much you actually accomplished.
Make bedtime special
This can be something as little as lighting a candle as you dress for bed, then blowing it out after the lights are out. By doing a ritual, you will signal to your brain that it is time to unwind and shut off, which actually makes your brain and body relax more and allows you to get in more sleep.
Exercise
While it may seem like something that makes you more active, exercise will make you relax after you have come down off the exercise high. Exercise helps us feel better, happier, and more relaxed and all of those can be achieved with as little as 15 minutes of exercise a day.
Play a game
You don’t have to be outside and running around to enjoy the benefits of this one. You can play a game of solitaire or spend 15 minutes a day on a phone or computer game you enjoy. By focusing on something fun, your brain automatically relaxes, which can help you reset and refocus on the stressful things without feeling as much stress.
Looking for more great tips? Check out how to eat healthy on a tight budget, healthy habits for kids, and that time we tried cauliflower crust pizza: a review of Caulipower pizza.