The stress of modern life can make real relaxation an elusive dream. Yet there is no reason life has to be filled with anxiety and stress. If you take some time to learn the art of relaxation, you can easily rediscover the enjoyment in life. The secret of relaxation is a controlled state of mind. For example, you could spend a whole hour in a health spa; but, if you spend the whole time worrying about what will happen tomorrow, how can you relax?
Relaxation Techniques
1. Now is the only Time that is important - How often do we find ourselves worrying about the future? Anxiety about the future takes up a significant portion of our thoughts. But, to be honest, worrying about the future doesn’t help in any way. If you always live in the past or future you will never be able to relax. To be in a state of relaxation means living only in the present moment.
2. Your environment Matters - Where you spend time has a subtle influence over your state of mind. Consciously we may not be always aware of this; however, you will notice that in some rooms it’s easier to relax and be at peace. Look at your room; if you see piles of clutter these will act as constant reminders of things you need to do.
These constant subconscious reminders are a heavy weight on the mind. If you tidy up the room and create a pleasant environment, it will make a big difference to your state of mind and enable you to relax. Don’t be reluctant to spend a bit of money on things like air-freshners and flowers. Spend time tidying up your living/work environment. Its essential to relaxation and will also make you more productive.
3. Meditation - During meditation we actively make time to silence the mind and bring to the fore a real feeling of relaxation. Meditation helps because we learn to control the relentless flow of thoughts. During meditation, the aim is to keep the mind still; this brings clarity and inner peace. This is the best type of relaxation because we become free from the relentless worries and anxieties of our own making. Find time to meditate for 10 or 15 minutes each day; through meditation we can easily detach ourselves from the pressures of the world.
4. Productivity not Procrastination - Relaxation doesn’t have to mean spending all day on a beach doing nothing. We need to learn how to relax, even in the midst of our daily activities. Prioritise the things that you need to do. If you do things systematically, one at a time, you will feel less stressed and get things done quickly. It’s when we try to do several things at once that we put ourselves under great pressure — this struggle which makes relaxation impossible. Don’t make life hard for yourself. Do one thing at a time and enjoy doing it. When you’ve completed your necessary work, then you have the reward of pleasing yourself without a guilty conscience.
5. Do Not Depend on the Opinions of Others - How much do you depend on the opinion of others? When we worry what people may think or say, we place a burden on our mind. Subconsciously we work towards trying to please others. However, when we have this state of mind it becomes impossible to relax. No matter what we do or say, there will always be someone who manages to criticise or find fault. Therefore, we should develop an attitude of detachment to both praise and criticism.
This doesn’t mean we’re indifferent to the views of others; it just means we won’t allow ourselves to lose our inner peace because of their opinions. This piece of advice isn’t easy to implement but over time we can gradually give less importance to the views of others. Relaxation can only occur if we aren’t constantly thinking about what others are saying and doing.
6. Time to Yourself - Don’t allow yourself to always be at the beck and call of work and other people — make time for yourself. If you are harassed by constant email and phone enquiries, take evasive action. Only take calls and answer emails at certain times of the day. It’s unlikely that your availability, 24 hours a day, is indispensable. When we allow pressures to build up, relaxation becomes very difficult. But, if you really try hard, you should be able to reduce the demands placed on your time and energy.
7. A change is as good as a rest - Life should not be a constantly repeating soap opera. If you find yourself stuck in the same routine, do something completely different. For example, if you spend all your evenings watching rubbish on TV or surfing the internet, you will not get a feeling of real relaxation. Go for a walk or do some sporting activity. The change of scene and activity will help you relax and get away from the monotony and frustration of daily activity.
Relaxation is as simple as gentle Breathing
If you feel stressed take a few moments out. Just watch and be aware of your breathing. Breathe naturally and gently; this will have a very powerful, calming influence on your mind. When you breathe in, feel that you are breathing in inner peace. When you breathe out, feel you are exhaling all your anxieties and worries. Relaxation can be this simple - it doesn’t have to be complicated at all.
Tejvan Pettinger is a member of the Sri Chinmoy Meditation Centre. He lives in Oxford where he works as a teacher. He also offers mediation classes as a community service and updates a blog at Sri Chinmoy Inspiration a collection of articles on meditation and self improvement.
Photo by: Tejvan Pettinger
(24 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
Loading ...
I believe we all know these things, the thing is that we always forget in our monotony lives and even think that resting is waste of time…
Thank you for reminding me that life is not only about work ;d
Good reminders! I especially need to practice #6: Time for Myself, including getting to know myself better - determining, reflecting, and meditating (loosely speaking - reinforcing in my mind) what I value most and where I’m headed. It helps me to find out my true core - it helps me know what I think and believe, and reminds me of those things.
I recently started going to Chinmaya Institute for yoga and meditation..I’m enjoying it so much! I feel so relaxed when I leave there, its wonderful!
[…] Read this… and learn to relax in the middle of the storm. After all, the storm is your life right now and you created it. Live it. […]
I like this post because it keeps things nice and simple, calm.
Great advice! I think that every once in a while it is okay to procrastinate but it is important that you accept it for what it is. You should say to yourself “I’m procrastinating but that’s alright. This is my procrastination time.” Of course, if you are saying this to yourself 24/7 then maybe you have a problem, but every so often is not such a bad thing. I think that we have come to think of procrastination as a dirty word. Besides procrastinating by doing something you really enjoy can help you to relax and remove any unwanted anxiety.
[…] 7 Powerful Relaxation Techniques - Pick the Brain [ DreamHost $50 discount coupon: ‘AVINASH’ ] […]
Thank you! I’ve been reading up on mindfulness the last couple of weeks to get out of this stressed state I seem to be in.. This great, complete post is (hopefully) just the additional info and help I needed!!
The Best From My Newly Discovered Blogs…
As I have mentioned to you before, I’m discovering a whole bunch of great new blogs. Inspiring blogs, such as the Positive Blog Network, that enlighten me, and make me see more clearly where my own passion and added value…
Thanke for your good reasonable ideas facture thinking that give vabrous maining to my life .
I pray as you resason out the good things of inspire thinking to make me accomplished my dreams.
[…] 7 Powerful Relaxation Techniques […]
[…] 7 Powerful Relaxation Techniques […]
[…] 7 Powerful Relaxation Techniques […]
True. Worrying about the future is a common problem for most of us. How do we expect to relax if our mind keeps on thinking? Thanks for this wonderful advice.
[…] Relaxation Techniques 7 Entspannungsmethoden. (tags: howto lifehacks productivity Tips) […]
These are all good suggestions. We have to learn and understand the factors that affect us first if we are really interested in having a day of relaxation.
[…] stressed out in the middle of a city you don’t know? Remember these 7 Powerful Relaxation Techniques from Pick The […]
[…] Filed Under Links Relaxation is as simple as gentle breathing.-Tejvan PettingerPick the Brain: 7 Powerful Relaxation Techniques […]
[…] some of these easy relaxation techniques add more oomph to your […]
[…] Tejvan Pettinger wrote a fantastic post today on “7 Powerful Relaxation Techniques”Here’s ONLY a quick extractThe stress of modern life can make real relaxation an elusive dream. Yet there is no reason life has to be filled with anxiety and stress. If you take some time to learn the art of relaxation, you can easily rediscover the enjoyment in … […]
This is one of the nice article i have read about the relaxation techniques. But, here i find the easiest technique of relaxation and they give the contents in an easily understandable manner. After reading this article, I got a conclusion that “Being ourselves and live the life you like” is the best way of relaxation. Thanks for the author to enlighten the technique to this wandering guy.
Great article! With all the hustle & bustle of daily life, we are always rushing from one thing to another and rarely take the time to stop and appreciate all this is around us. As a nation, we suffer from high levels of stress related, easily preventable diseases.
If people would only take the time to relax and take some time out of their busy lives, they would be much healthier and more productive.
Also breathe by expanding the belly, filling the lungs from the bottom to the top, in through the nostrils and out through the lips. Drink deeply of the free oxygen and fully expel as much of the carbon dioxide as you can.
[…] Continue reading Posted on December 22, 2007 | No Comments | Filed under : general […]
[…] you will need. Whilst the process of recovering is a long and tedious one, it is possible to live without anxiety disorders disrupting your […]
[…] Step 3: Balanced Diet A balanced diet is essential to providing your body with the necessary nutrients needed to function optimally. Avoid taking in stimulants such as caffeine, or substances such as drugs, alcohol or cigarettes. These stimulants cause your heartbeat to speed up, and may trigger symptoms of your anxiety disorder. Step 4: Seek Emotional Support It is important to recognize that you have a problem, and not be afraid to seek help from your family and close ones. Share with them the cause of your anxiety disorder, as this will help them to assist and support you in recovering from anxiety disorders. If possible, you should see a professional for counseling to eliminate the root of your anxiety problem. Support groups are also a good alternative to share and learn from others who suffer from the same illness. […]
The breathing exercise that you described - I have practiced and it is really effective.
I personally think that it is all in the attitude.Our total personality makes us stressed or relaxed. We may practice all the relaxation techniques, but unless we take steps to change our outlook,our basic reactions will always be the same.
For example- procrastination and worrying about what other people think - these are all attitudes that get reflected in our various character traits.
No denying that we should take steps to relax our minds, but keeping the bigger picture in mind helps.
[…] Social support is the encouraging support you get from family, friends, and the community. More and more research indicates a strong relationship between social support and better mental and physical health. […]
Jessie…
Such a fun and informative blog! Please visit my site when you can….
[…] bodies, you’ll find teens complaining endlessly of their looks, especially their weight. Teenagers have different health needs than children and adults, but they are not always aware of what makes a […]
[…] full benefits out of yoga however. Yoga can help with breathing, so if your not breathing right, yoga will teach you how to get in control of your breathing. Yoga will help you learn how to control your […]
Minneapolis Star Tribune- Golf: Hanson ties Johnson for lead with a hot putter Golf: Inkster takes 2- stroke lead; Wie skies to 12- over- par 84 Golf: A 3M walkthrough Singh edges up to land a stroke behind leaders First- round leader feels at home at Bunker Hills EVIAN- LES-