Kicking Back on National Relaxation Day
Between work, school or any other of life’s daily responsibilities, it can be hard finding time to relax. In fact, going too long without having a chance to step back and unwind can leave you feeling burnt out and stressed, which can negatively affect your mental, emotional and even physical wellbeing.
Reasons like this are exactly why National Relaxation Day was founded in 1985 by 9-year-old Sean Moller, who simply thought adults needed a break and to simply to do “nothing”. While this year the day will be celebrated on Saturday, August 15, it’s important remember that no matter what your definition of “relaxation” is or what day it is, everyone can benefit from a day of doing nothing.
Here are some ways you can celebrate National Relaxation Day or relax any other day of the year:
Take a nap. We all can feel too busy or put too much on our schedules. Even taking a 5-minute nap can help your body relax and reduce stress. Try finding a quiet space away from loud noises or other distractions and let yourself drift off to sleep.
Take a break from technology. Social media can cause a lot of stress, overthinking and other mental health related issues. Taking a break from things like this and just technology in general can improve your wellbeing and outlook. So, turn off the tv, log out of your social profiles and throw your phone on “Do Not Disturb” and let yourself unwind.
Go outdoors. Did you know that just sitting outside in the sun can help improve your mood? It’s true! Taking time out of your day to grab some fresh air can help you be happier and even healthier. Schedule some time to go on a walk, hop on your bike or any just lounge out with a good book and soak up some sun.
Meditate. We all can benefit from taking some time and centering ourselves. One way to do that is by meditation. In fact, the art meditation has been around for hundreds of years and has been used by people all over the world to enhance their overall health and wellbeing. Some of the great benefits of meditation includes improving psychological balance and even helping you cope with an illness!
Try yoga. Similar to meditation, practicing yoga is a great way to combine the mental health benefits of relaxing with the physical benefits of exercise. Try finding online tutorials or see if your local gym or yoga studio is offering online classes and get started today.
No matter what you decide to do (or not do) this National Relaxation Day, remember that everyone deserves a break.
