Relaxation

Finding time for relaxation is a really important part of looking after yourself and helping you manage life’s stresses. It improves your mental health and gives the body (and your mind) a chance to take a break.

Relaxation reduces stress and some symptoms of mental health conditions like depressions and anxiety. Other health benefits include lowering your heart rate, your blood pressure and breathing rate. Taking time to relax releases muscle tension and helps you feel calmer.

When we relax, the flow of blood around our body increases which gives us more energy. It helps us to have a calmer and clearer mind which helps us to concentrate, helps our memory, and us to think more positively.

In our 24/7 busy lifestyles we may feel guilty about taking time to relax; there is always something to do. Do you sometimes feel that 24 hours a day is not enough time to do all the things that you want to do – or have to do? If so, that is a good sign that you are working too hard and your stress levels are high, furthermore you may be less productive than you think.

Scientists exploring the negative impact of chronic stress are telling us that we need to incorporate some relaxation into our busy lives; just 5 minutes a day ‘switched off’ is a good start. This helps us recharge our ability to deal with problems and look again at our workload or demands on our time. When we feel overwhelmed we can’t prioritise.

Having said that we all relax in our own way, we really need to find a way that also allows us to turn our ‘heads off’. Whilst we may feel like we are relaxing by watching our favourite series on Netflix or hanging out with friends these activities doesn’t allow the brain to release all thoughts and restore lost energy. Relaxing ‘doing stuff’ might help us feel less guilty as we are doing ‘something’ but make sure you make time to switch your brain off sometimes too.

So, make sure you make time for relaxation and rest – both are important for our mental health. It is worth mentioning that it helps you think more clearly, concentrate and remember things better. You will see that most of our suggested relaxation activities include ‘turning off your brain’.