Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. ~Chinese Proverb

Being constantly on the go, working long hours, taking care of family and chores and running to and fro to social activities can take its toll on your mental and physical health. The one thing that never seems to be “scheduled” into hectic everyday living is time to relax. The trick to maintaining a healthy balance of health and vitality is taking the time that you need to recharge and unwind.

If you need a few reasons to justify downtime here are a few very good ones.

10. Your children follow your lead. Teach them that taking time to unwind is a valuable tool.

9. Chronic stress can lead to weight gain, especially in the belly area, as it raises cortisol levels.

8. Short-term memory can be affected as stress can inhibit oxygen flow to the brain.

7. Staying in a constant stress zone can raise blood pressure levels.

6. Your immune system is lowered by stress making it harder to fight off illness.

5. You will be naturally more attractive as a relaxed and confident person.

4. A calm and relaxed mind helps you to achieve better clarity and focus.

3. Relaxing your mind helps to enhance creativity.

2. Without stress a relaxed mind is able to process the information it has already stored allowing you to discover successful solutions.

1. Being stress free FEELS GOOD!

If these reasons appeal to you and you are ready to take action to achieve a stress free life here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Become aware of your breath!

We breathe without thinking yet we couldn’t live without the oxygen that our breath takes in. Increased oxygen flow helps the brain to function at optimum levels and relaxes the body in wonderful ways. Take a few moments each day, especially during a stressful situation, to calm your mind and slow your breathing. Take three deep cleansing breaths to increase oxygen, relax your mind and soothe your body.

2. Claim your gifts of time!

Traffic jams, standing in line at a store or being on hold while making a phone call are all examples of a gift of time. It’s what you do with it that matters. Instead of being upset, raising your blood pressure and frustration levels, why not practice your breathing exercises. Another great way to utilize these gifts of time is to indulge in a mini-meditation or mind mantra. Whatever works best for you, use it to your advantage.

3. Play the Gratitude Game

When you feel stress and tension creeping in, take a moment to mentally list five things in your life that you are grateful for. As you consciously recognize the wonders that are already taking place in your life you will find it hard to stay in a mindset of stress and tension. The fun thing with this game is that you can get your friends and family involved and have a gratitude session once a week to keep your spirits high! Stretch your mind and come up with 20 things then 50 things and you will be amazed at the effects it will have for you in the long term.

　

Whatever you choose to implement into your day, to relieve stress and tension is a great beginning to increasing your health, happiness and vitality! It is simple and can be fun. Why not try it out right now! 1.….2.….3.… BREATHE!