5 Tips for Getting The Most Awesome Distraction Free Relaxation
It is the last five minutes of yoga and now it is time for final relaxation. This is the time to quiet the mind and reflect on the practice. Marissa lies down and closes her eyes in an attempt to enjoy these final moments of peace.
Then she hears her phone buzz, it could be an email, a text message, or a voicemail, who knows? Maybe it’s her kid’s school trying to get a hold of her. Or maybe it’s one of her employees calling to tell her that the business is up in flames!
Gasp, Marissa is panicked and anxious as she lies there for the longest five minutes of her life. She thinks to herself, “I must get to my phone!” As soon as the instructor said “Namaste,” Marissa jumped up and reached for her phone.
It was just an email from “Target,” she got a 30% off coupon on her next purchase. She thinks to herself, “Oh how nice!” And all her anxieties fade away. The end.
Relaxation. Why is this activity so difficult for some people? Our bodies need to rest and wind down for our health and well-being. We are not machines that can just keep going and going. Eventually, something has to give.
Yet with technology constantly available to interrupt every moment of our day, it can be easy to get lost and distracted. And by the time you know it, the day is over with very little productivity and no time for relaxation.
5 Tips for Getting The Most Awesome Distraction Free Relaxation
- Limit your interruptions by only checking electronic devices a few times per day, like one or two times, if possible. And especially turn off electronics during meditation practice, yoga or other personal “me time” activities.
- Schedule “me time” in your calendar every day, even if it is just five minutes long. Mihaly Csiksgentmihalyi says that “American’s have a more difficult time with free time than work.” At work, you have goals to meet daily. Your “me time” is not structured, so you will have to be creative and make it your own. This might take more energy and effort. Do it anyways.
- Change the way you feel about relaxation. We don’t have to be busy all the time. When you are rested, you are more productive and engaged in the moment. It’s okay to calm down and just rest. Your mind and body really like it, I promise!
- Set boundaries and say “no” more. Sometimes when other people see that you have some free time, they might think that your calendar is free to help them. Be clear to everybody in your life that you are taking this time to yourself and that you need it.
- Discover new ways to relax with yoga, meditation, reading, journaling, exercising, etc. Find what works for you.
Final thoughts
Sometimes doing more doesn’t give you more. There has to be a balance in life, where you work when you are working and you rest when you are resting. I mean real rest, not preoccupied rest, like in Marissa’s story. When you take care of your mental and physical needs, you can be happy, healthy, and flourishing in all areas of your life.
Want to Start Meditating and Journaling?
Click here to order a copy of “Just Breathe: A 90-Day Meditation Journal and Coloring Book
