Ever need a break, a fresh start, or just time to yourself? We all need that special time to just “let it all hang out.” Especially, after a stressful day or night of work. As women, we give it our all. Whether it's in housework, company work or play, we strive to achieve. The question is how can we focus on taking care of our minds and bodies by relaxing for little or nothing? There are some simple tips to relax, if we would just take the time to do them.
Time is a precious thing. However, so are our minds and bodies. We have to take time out for ourselves. Time away from the kids, the husband, boyfriend or significant other. Sometimes as women and being natural caretakers, we tend to think relaxing or doing things for ourselves is wasting time. We feel we have to be productive in order to feel valued.
Many of us have people we live with on a daily basis, families who depend on us constantly. We have demanding bosses and nit-picky secretaries, teacher conferences, PTA functions, not to mention your child's dance, soccer, baseball or piano lessons, which you can,'t be late for; how about daycare, dry cleaning etc. You get the picture! Sometimes relaxing is that thing we get only when we sleep at night. Let's face it! Girl, we are “Wonder Woman!” At least that's what everybody thinks, and life can be hectic. It's easy to feel overwhelmed daily. So how do you relax for little or nothing?
Let's start with regaining your self-awareness in your mind. This is not the time to think about the laundry, dinner or your kid's schoolwork. If you can, get someone else to do it for a day.
While relaxing, think about who you are. What's nice about you? Where are you going in life? What makes you a good person? What are some things you would like to change about yourself? These are all self-reflections every woman needs to face in her life. Questions to think about while your relaxing. Thoughts to reclaim your self-confidence after a long hectic week.
There are many ways to relax that can be cost-effective. Yoga is a low cost popular way a lot of people like to relax. A recommended exercise for relaxing, Yoga is total fitness for the body, mind, and spirit. Practiced for thousands of years, Yoga combines relaxing deep breathing techniques with physical postures that stretch, strengthen and align the whole body. After you finish you'll feel empowered, relaxed yet energized, and physically free. You can find free Yoga techniques at here. As with any exercise before starting Yoga, you should consult a doctor's advice.
Here are a few helpful, simple tips that anyone can do to help relax, unwind, and recoup after a long day of work, family and friends.
Create Ambiance
Light several candles in your bathroom, and take a long, warm or hot shower and let the water run down your neck, shoulders, arms and back for about 5-10 minutes. When you come out of the shower, the steam mixed with the fragrant candle will provide a relaxing atmosphere. Saturate Your Senses.
Wash your hair in warm water with a relaxing aroma shampoo like an herbal shampoo, ex: “Free me Freesia” with jasmine and aloe by Alberto VO5 is very nice. After washing your hair in warm water, turn on the cold water and stimulate your hair follicles. The cold water awakens your scalp and senses for relaxing. Rest Your Hair and Body.
After washing your hair, give it and you a break by wrapping it in a warm bath towel straight from the dryer. Then kick back on a sofa or bed and relax without drying your hair this time. Free Your Mind & The Rest Will Follow.
Read a romance novel or another comforting book like The Holy Bible in bed on freshly changed linen. (No mysteries, adventures, or horror books allowed. These will only intensify your anxiety and stress levels while reading.) Pamper Your Tootsies While Relaxing!
Buy a “Homedics” or a “Spa Therapy” Foot & Bath Massager; turn it on slow to medium speed; sit back in your favorite easy chair with the remote in one hand, and submerge the other hand in a warm bowl of buttery popcorn. Then rent a “women up-lifting, not a women down playing,” drama flick. Turn off the lights and light a candle to increase relaxation. Note: (Don't keep your feet submerged any longer than 15-minutes in the foot massager.) Have a Tranquil Nap.
Unplug the telephones, TV, radio, doorbell, and answering machine. Take a warm fragrant bubble bath with a soft bath pillow placed behind your neck, or you can use a rolled bath towel. Close your eyes and take a nap. Note: (Make sure you don't fill your tub too high with water for safety.) Day Dream Your Time Away!
Get a pair of headphones and play a mellow, romantic jazz, blues, R & B or classical tune on your CD or cassette player. Move a comfortable chair by a window and stare out at the clouds in the sky. If it's at night, raise the blinds and stare out at the stars and the moon. Try to tune out anyone who might enter the room. Create a soothing environment
without the noise or lights. Turn off all the lights, TV, radio, computer, and open a window for a cool breeze to flow into the room, or if it's noisy outside turn on a fan to blow air faintly towards you for relaxation. If the area you're in is still noisy, put a couple of cotton balls or earplugs in your ears. Put on your favorite P.J.'s and go to sleep early. “Calgon, Take Me Away!”
A great tip for a migraine headache remedy is to run a warm bath combined with the following essential oils and a emulsifier (cream or honey): add three drops of chamomile, 3 drops of lavender, and 3 drops of rosemary. This will alleviate tension and provide a relaxing aroma-therapy sensation to soothe your headache away.
Taking the time to do these simple tips will be well worth it as you awaken to start your new day, girl relaxed, ready and set for anything!
