How to support rest and relaxation
– By Dr. Samantha Eid
As we continue to live our busy lives with no signs of slowing down, here are some things that you can do to help your body rest, relax and rejuvenate. Here are my 5 top tips in maintaining and finding a relaxed state of wellbeing…
1) Schedule ‘me-time’
Schedule your rest and relaxation time into your diary or calendar and stick to it as if it were an appointment or meeting. Realise that time for yourself is a vital part of maintaining good health and wellbeing, so set yourself times that are going to be for rest, relaxation and good health, and enjoy it!
2) Apps
There are so many Apps available these days and plenty of them are to assist you in rest and relaxation. ‘Headspace’ and ‘Smiling Mind’ are two that I recommend. They provide guided meditation and mindfulness exercises ranging from 2-60 minutes, perfect to squeeze into a busy schedule!
3) Mindfully multi-task
Speaking of mindfulness, it’s an activity that you can do at any time and it’s great to double it up with some of our day-to-day jobs. For instance, try practicing mindfulness when cooking and eating a meal. Notice the smells, how it looks, the textures and tastes of the food and the sounds that come from cooking and enjoying it.
Apply mindfulness when doing some tasks that perhaps are more of a chore, like hanging out the washing for example. It’s all about being present in a moment and taking the time to notice your surroundings and using your 5 senses.
You’ll never sigh about having to hang out the washing again (maybe)!
4) Find things you love to do
This can be trial and error, but don’t be afraid to try new experiences, new exercises or new activities. I’m sure that we can all attest to feeling good when we do something that we love, so find what it is and do more of it!
Finding the type of exercise that you enjoy also makes it so much easier to stay motivated and continue with that exercise or program. If fitting in exercise currently stresses you out, then explore different exercise regimes or health clubs in your area to find something that reduces your stress, not adds to it!
5) Keep well fed and hydrated
It may seem like a simple thing to do, but ensuring that you have nutritious foods and plenty of water to support your health and wellbeing will help your body to be less-stressed. Poor nutrition and dehydration can cause stress responses in our bodies.
Try planning out your meals for the week to further assist in making dinner time a more relaxed event in your household. And as for the H2O, I recommend carrying a drink bottle with you so it’s easy to sip away throughout the day. You may find it useful to have a transparent water bottle with markings or times of the day down the side to help keep you on track with your water intake.
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