Many of us would like to experience times in our lives when we feel genuinely relaxed. However, that state of mind rarely occurs. Most of the time, we’re so stressed out of our brains and rushed off our feet that we’re unable to even contemplate the idea of zoning out for a while.
We’re also victims of bad thinking about relaxation. Many of us believe that it’s something that we do at the beach, the spa or on vacation. But that’s not actually how it works. You can’t force yourself into a state of relaxation. And as any parent who has taken their children to the beach will attest, it’s not always a gentle and pleasant experience.
So what exactly is relaxation? Well, fundamentally, it’s something that you learn how to do. It’s a way of transitioning your mental state away from being reactive and always-on, to something calmer, more passive, and more fully absorbed in the positive aspects of your life.
In the early days, relaxation advocates talked about how it was something that people had to learn. It wasn’t just a case of going to the liquor store and guzzling whatever you could find. It was something more conscious and purposeful than that.
So what should you be doing?
Figure Out What Actually Relaxes You
Next time you feel relaxed, pay close attention to the conditions that led to that state of mind. Usually, you can find common threads that you can then employ in the future to give you a similar state of wellbeing.
It can often be quite challenging to think about what relaxes you because the situations in which you find yourself are so different. But there is always a deep emotional logic lurking in the background you can identify.
Make It Intentional
Just like other practices, relaxation should also be something that you make intentional. In other words, you specifically set aside time every week to enjoy yourself and allow the stress to flow out of your body, instead of keeping it all bottled up.
How you make it intentional is very much up to you. Many people, for instance, keep Sundays free and make sure that they use the time to focus on enhancing their own wellbeing.
Be More Generous To Yourself
As you learn how to relax, you realize how critical it is to be generous to yourself. Constantly putting pressure on your body isn’t healthy, especially in the long-run. So many people learn to take longer breaks from work and really enjoy the free time and space that they have.
In many ways, spending time in a relaxed state works like pure CBD oil. It fundamentally changes the chemistry of your brain, making you feel more positive about life. Often, you’re able to perform better at work than you were able to before you took a break.
Get In The Mood
Lastly, it’s a good idea to establish a ritual to get you in the mood for relaxation. Priming yourself for complete mental rest actually helps your brain to switch off.
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