Archive for the 'Relax' Topics
Relax #8. Active Step: Relax an hour before bed tonight
We’ve touched on this in the earlier ‘Sleep well’ topic, but tonight, why not schedule an extra relaxing hour before bed?
Lay off the caffeine. Switch off computers, phones and TV’s.
Get your bedroom clean and comfortable.
Light some candles, have a bath, read a good book… and r-e-l-a-x…
Relax #6. Active Step: Walk away from anger & stress
Stress and anger go together in much the same way as calmness and relaxation. When we are calm and relaxed we feel in control and contented. When we are stressed and angry, we can often lose control and react instantly without thinking. This may make us feel more powerful in the short-term, especially if we get our way. In the long-term, however, it can lead to a loss of respect from others, a loss of self-respect and a feeling of isolation.
We all feel ourselves get angry sometimes, but there are ways to help us manage it more often. Here are some useful tips on how to reduce stress and anger in your life:
1 – ‘Stop’. Stop yourself from instantly saying or doing anything irrationally in response to this anger
2 – Take control. Tell yourself “I can cope without losing my cool”
3 – Use ‘instant relaxation’ to relax you. Take several deep breaths and physically relax
4 – Change negative, irrational and unproductive thoughts into positive, rational and productive ones:
“I have nothing to gain from getting angry”
“I am a calm and positive person”
“This feeling will pass”
“I am not going to get angry”
5 – Be assertive, make the decision to express how you feel calmly and logically, and/or to walk away if you feel you have nothing to gain from trying to sort things out (or are just too angry to do so)
6 – If still present, channel your anger into something creative or into some exercise. This can be a healthier, more constructive way to ‘burn it off’, letting go of the anger and moving on from the situation.
Relax #5. Active Step: Use ‘systematic relaxation’ today
1 – Sit or lie down in a quiet and comfortable place
2 – Take a deep breath in through your nose, and let it out slowly isualising ‘letting go’ of your stress as you do so. Repeat several times
3 – Tense and relax all you main muscle groups, once again ‘letting go’ of any tension. For example – in your face, tense your eyes closed, your forehead, your lips and teeth and count to 5. Then relax and ‘let go’. Breathe slowly to deepen this relaxing feeling.
4 – Practise this each day, it doesn’t take long.
