Breathe. Relax. Unwind. These are important words to me.
BREATHE: Whenever I see or hear this word, it causes me to inhale and exhale with intention. Breath is the essence of our physical health. Fresh oxygen is carried throughout our bodies with our breath. Life stress causes us to hold our breath or to breathe very shallow, without even really being aware of it. Take a deep belly breath now with me. Inhale. Exhale. Feel that breath go deep into your torso, filling your lungs, feeding your brain. Congrats! You just took a step towards excellent self-care. Be aware of your breath.
RELAX: This can sound like an impossible command. It’s true, it’s difficult to relax when we have so much going on in our daily lives. However, finding time to relax is fundamental to our overall health. In a relaxed state, our body’s natural healing abilities are activated. Taking breaks throughout the day (even just three minutes – or less!) to close your eyes and breathe, or to step away from your desk and stretch, to go outside and get some sunshine or walk in the rain, these are all ways to provide your body a way to relax and recharge for the next task. Want to try out the three-minute mini break? Check our these free three-minute Mindful Meditation MP3s from Plum Deluxe.
UNWIND: How do you unwind? I might be biased, but my favorite way to unwind is to get a massage! When I get a massage, my thoughts become uber-clear and I feel grounded again, like I’ve hit the reset button. I have a new outlook on my day, and on life in general. That’s a powerful feeling. There are a multitude of ways you can unwind from daily stressors and they’re probably different for all of us. It might be taking time to sit and listen to your favorite music, paint or draw or craft something, taking a drive just for fun, taking a yoga class or other type of exercise, getting together with friends, cooking, taking a hot bath, getting a massage…When you discover what it is for you that helps you to unwind from feelings of stress and negative thoughts that pester your mind, do more of THAT.
Breathe. Relax. Unwind. Life is too short to not make the most of every moment. Give yourself the gift of slowing down. This is the moment you’ve been trying to get to. Let your to-do list go for a minute and just enjoy your breath, the feeling of life in you, the space around you, right now. You’re worth it!
Positively Tasha 