Finding time to wind down and relax is one of the most rejuvenating gifts you can give yourself – and also one of the hardest to come by, it seems. As we finish out the month of July and head into a weekend, I thought this would be a great time to talk about relaxation and share a couple of quick tips.
On her site “Too Much on Her Plate” my friend and colleague Melissa McCreery writes (and coaches) about challenges faced by smart, busy women … women just like you! In one recent post, she shared about “The Art of Relaxation,” noting that while it may seem simple, “for busy women who have established a habit of juggling a lot and being “in action,” relaxing often does not come automatically. To make matters worse, many of my clients tell me they feel guilty because they have a hard time relaxing.”
Does that describe you?
There are two issues here:
- Carving out the time to relax, and then
- Using that time in a truly relaxing way.
The first step involves setting time boundaries. Whether it is a week-long vacation or a 15-minute break in a busy day, carve out the time and set it apart for relaxation.
The second step involves quieting your mind and letting go of the clamor of the “shoulds” and “to do’s” (not to mention the guilt) that can swirl there for each of us. It is helpful to expect that these distracting thoughts will rise – and to know that you can gently set them aside. Don’t empower them. Just recognize what is happening and let them go.
Over time, and with practice, these voices will quiet and you will be able to breathe and relax into your moment.
Practice is important.
Like so many other things, this is a skill that you will develop over time. And as for the time you devote to it – it’s not the duration so much as the quality of the time that matters. As Melissa writes:
I’ve set a goal to be more purposeful about creating more of this kind of space in my life throughout the year. I’m planning on making more retreats to the beach (in all seasons) and I’m making more space for down time in the day-to-day of my life. A few deliberate minutes every day can remind me how to really be present in my life.
Try practicing relaxation over the next two days and see how you feel! Set aside the time and start practicing. (And remember to call it “practice” – that helps relieve some of the pressure to get it right!)
Please drop me a line – I’d love to hear about your experiences!
What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up and download The New Finding Time Boundary Template. It’s FREE, and when you sign up you will also receive (if you don’t already) my FREE, weekly Finding Time Tips and my FREE, monthly Award-Winning Finding Time E-zine!
Let’s explore time together …
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