Mastering the art of relaxation
In our busy lives, we often think that we don't have time to rest or relax, or perhaps see it as a sign of weakness. But no one can operate in top gear all day or all week long - it is neither sustainable nor desirable. So we need to build breaks and time to recharge and recuperate into our daily lives.
What we cover
Giving yourself permission to rest & relax
Building periods of relaxation into your daily routine will enhance your physical & mental wellbeing, as well as giving you the chance to pause & reflect more deeply. This needs to be prioritised and scheduled if necessary, rather than being something you might get round to doing once you have crossed off everything else on the "To Do" list.
Key ingredients of restful activities
- Alone or together?
- Mental or physical?
- Occupying your mind fully or allowing it to wander
- Not keeping score
- Outside
How to relax
The "Rest Test" survey was conducted in 2016 by the BBC in conjunction with the Wellcome Trust. Some 18,000 people around the world participated and these were the top ten most restful activities cited:
- Reading
- Being in nature
- Spending time on your own
- Listening to music
- Doing nothing
- Walking
- Taking a bath
- Daydreaming
- Watching TV
- Mindfulness or meditation
What to say "No" to
You will never complete your To Do list, but it can fill up all of your spare time if you let it. What can you give up or spend less time on to free up sufficient time for some of the activities above?