The holidays are over and the new year has begun. Now many of us are setting goals and striving to achieve resolutions. Although progressing towards a goal creates a wonderful feeling, it is also important to take some time to just slow down and relax because we are only on this planet once. Furthermore, we are only here for a limited amount of time so we need to make the most of it otherwise we will look up and it will all be over. With this in mind, we have compiled a list of fantastic tips that allow you to slow down and relax.
Take Deep Breaths – Although this is a saying that we all seem to have adopted, it isn’t just a waste of breath, we say it because it works. Every day, spend a couple of minutes taking deep breathes because this will help your muscles to relax. When we multi-task and run around trying to do three jobs within half an hour, our muscles tense so just take a moment to remove yourself before continuing.
Leave Work at Work – Although the advances in technology in recent years have been magnificent, there are also downsides too; have you ever been on your phone whilst eating dinner replying to emails? As soon as you leave work, you need to fully leave work which means turning your phone onto silent. If you need to be on-call or answer certain important calls, why not put your phone onto vibrate? Everything else…well, this can all wait until the next day.
Take Breaks – Right now, you might think it impossible to take breaks but we think that it should be possible both short-term and long-term. Throughout the day, you should be able to take a couple of minutes to complete tip number one. Every year, you should be able to take a few days to get away from everything and refresh your mind and body. Even if this seems a million miles away, you will be much more efficient when you return – we can almost guarantee this.
Meditate – As a little mini-break, you could always get into the habit of meditating. If you’re looking for a way to remove yourself for a few minutes and clear your mind of all thought, this is a superb tactic. When trying this, meditate in the conditions that you feel comfortable whether it is with or without music, cushions, humming, sitting down, laying down, etc.
If you cannot slow down and relax every once in a while, there is a real threat of life becoming too stressful and your existence becoming more of a chore than a life. No matter how busy you get, you have to remember that life is short and these great tips mean that you can stay grounded through the good times and the bad. Perhaps most importantly, they mean that you can Live Life Fully.
