Some Great Ways to Relax

Stress is nature’s way of responding to the challenges of life. In short bursts, stress helps us respond to stimulus quickly, clarify our priorities and reach goals. Stress is awesome when experienced briefly, as nature intended, and followed by periods of relaxation. Unfortunately we do not live in a natural world and many of us feel stress continually from the unrelenting demands of work and family. Without some reprieve our bodies cannot recover from stress. This can lead to frustration and impatience with the people we love, anxiety and even depression. It’s important to allow yourself some time every day to unwind, collect your thoughts and let go of tension.

A Spa Day

If you enjoy being pampered then a massage or a trip to the spa might be just what is needed. Taking time to take care of yourself might be the perfect stress relief if you spend all your time taking care of others. Getting a facial or refreshing your look with a haircut will feel good when you do it. It will also offer some relief if you have been feeling insecure about your appearance, diminishing the stress that comes with feeling self-conscious.

Try Meditation

Meditation is an easy and inexpensive method of relaxing. It can also increase creativity, improve your ability to focus and lower blood pressure. It helps to rid the mind of persistent negative thoughts. Meditation classes are available almost everywhere. If you are a goal-oriented type of person and the idea of sitting still and meditating does not appeal to you, then try any repetitive and uncomplicated task. Knitting and walking can both be forms of meditation that also leave you feeling that you have accomplished something with your time.

Keep Yourself Educated

If you run a busy household, it may seem very difficult to find time to relax. Hectic mums know that the decision to do something new means sacrificing some other activity. How do you find time for yourself when the house is a mess and the pressures of work and children are constant? Instead of being overwhelmed by chores, try to look at them as an opportunity. If you regret not having time to sit and read, then download some audiobooks and listen to them when you clean the house. Take a chore such as folding laundry or washing dishes and set aside solitary time for yourself. Consider that this is the time for listening to music or podcasts and the housework is just an activity to keep your hands busy.

Revisiting an interest from your youth can have an especially healing effect on the mind. If you loved your history classes then pick up some popular history books or download some university lectures onto your music player. If you spent your teen years daydreaming about life as an artist, then pick up some paint and canvas and give it a try. Find a way to work some relaxation into your life and you will be rewarded with better health and a more positive outlook.

This article is brought to you on behalf of the Connaught – five-star luxury hotel in Mayfair and home to one the finest London spas.

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Courtesy of Cara StHilaire - http://www.flickr.com/photos/carabanderson/