Post contributed by Roshonna Plett, therapist at Bergen and Associates Counselling. Thanx, Roshonna!
Relaxing is a funny thing. I find at times, that the more I want to rest and relax, the more it seems to evade me. Kind of like watching and waiting for a pot to boil.Even when my body is notifying me that it’s time to take a step back, my mind keeps reminding me of all that is undone. Shame and guilt become drill sargents pushing me to work harder, meet the next goal, keep up appearances to try to satisfy what I imagine others expect from me.
Just this week I had a friend share an insight she gleaned from a book on resting. She told me that resting is something we need to practice throughout our daily lives. If we neglect relaxation as a regular fixture of life, we will notice that the specific time we allot for resting, such as an afternoon reading in the sun, a spa date or a much anticipated vacation, may not have the relaxing effect we hope for. What I took from this is that we need to be intentional about resting!
If resting is actually that important in balancing the busyness and stress of life, how can we make sure it happens? Sometimes our minds are spinning so fast we need a way to slow down the rhythms of our body first. This allows the mind then to follow suit. I have found that, among other things, breathing exercises and stretching enable a physical slowdown. If you are looking for practical ways to begin this process, the website Inner Health Studio is the place to start. One of the most helpful components of this online resource is the audio version of some of the relaxation exercises which provide guidance on how to begin reducing physical tension. I found that when I listened to another voice guiding me through the process of relaxing my muscles, my thoughts of worry had a less powerful presence.
This season, among all the spring cleaning, end of school activities and summer holiday planning, take some time for yourself!
Resting. It doesn’t come easy. We need it. Let’s be intentional about it!
Write a Comment