Stressed Out? Here's How to Relax

Are you one of those people who live by the clock and have to stay busy every minute of the day? Many of us, when faced with free time, find it impossible to relax. The idea of wasting precious minutes and hours is more than we can bear. But relaxation isn't wasted time by any means.

Relaxation provides numerous benefits, one of the most important being improved health. People who are constantly on the go may not give their bodies a chance to signal fatigue. As a result, they may be prone to such stress-related illnesses as headaches, insomnia and high blood pressure.

Besides being good for the body, relaxation is also good for the soul. We all need time for ourselves. All work and no play makes you and your life pretty dull. Relaxation can inject fun, happiness and fulfillment into your daily routine.

Barriers To Relaxation

An inability to relax may be more a problem of perception than a lack of time. Someone who considers leisure activity as time that could be better spent doing something constructive, or who thinks relaxation means doing nothing, is misinterpreting the term. When you can't see the benefits of relaxation, you aren't likely to make it a priority.

Another barrier to relaxation is that many people simply don't know how to do it. Relaxation is a learned skill that must be practiced.

Understanding Relaxation

To begin, let's get rid of some misconceptions about relaxation. Relaxation is anything that helps ease stress and takes your mind off problems at work or home. Relaxation can be many things-from sports activities, to reading for pleasure, to playing with your child, to enjoying a hobby, to taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon. Relaxation is something you choose to do because you want to, not because you have to.

People choose their own ways to relax. Actress Mary Tyler Moore does needlepoint. News anchorman Tom Brokaw likes to backpack in the mountains.

An activity one person considers work might be relaxing to another. Cleaning house and gardening are two examples. Pushing a dust mop around the floor may not be your idea of nirvana, yet it may be the way your best friend relaxes. You may thoroughly enjoy pulling weeds in your garden, while your spouse detests it.

Learning To Relax

The first step in learning to relax is to look at the reasons why you haven't been able to relax before now. Then make a conscious decision to give it a try. Here are some suggestions for learning to relax:

• Make a commitment to relax each day, even if it's only for a few minutes.
• Choose relaxation activities that allow you to forget everything except what you are doing.
• Keep a list of ways you'd relax if you unexpectedly found yourself with idle time so you'll be prepared to make the most of it when you do.
• If every minute of your day is accounted for, rework your schedule so you can enjoy at least a few moments of relaxation. Don't build more tasks into your day than you can complete.
• Before going to bed, spend a few minutes clearing your mind of the day's events. When you go to bed relaxed, you'll sleep better.
• Learn to say no to outside demands and start to do less.
• Plan leisure activities in advance. Make a date with a friend that you'll be sure to keep.
• Do something you always wanted to do but never made time for previously.
• Don't live by the clock. On your next day off, free yourself of time constraints and your activities will be more relaxing.
• Do something completely spontaneous for a change and don't feel guilty about it.

Once you discover how nice relaxation can be, you'll want to make time for it. Consider it a well-deserved reward.