We all know the lead up to the New Year can be challenging at times and sometimes we can feel worse for wear and burnt out, tired and needing a relaxing holiday away from it all. We often forget to pause and give ourselves a well-deserved rest and because of this, we crash when all the hype and festivities are over.
Then we convince ourselves into creating New Year resolutions to lose weight, eat well, join a gym or some other activity to rid of the excess pounds and get in shape for Spring/Summer which is a positive step towards self-care but for some it can create new stresses. Many people have attempted to stick to such resolutions only to end up not feeling motivated after a few days, weeks or even months because they haven’t given themselves permission to relax.
Give yourself permission to relax
Most people go through life flitting from one thing to the next. Unfortunately this is how modern life and society is. We think we have to be busy doing something all the time and spread ourselves too thin. We work hard and take care of others but forget about self-care. For some, they experience chronic stress that is dulled by coffee or pick-me-ups, like sugar and alcohol and other stimulants. For others, they simply burn out and have a hard time getting through the week.
Giving yourself permission to relax is an extremely important self-care routine. We should be giving ourselves permission to relax and unwind every day for at least 5 to 30 minutes in order to rest, refresh and realign. Pausing is a powerful tool to manage stress and gives the opportunity to practice mindfulness. Instead of rushing through the day, we should encourage ourselves to take a step back on a daily basis and just be present in our lives be in the now so we can better understand our emotional and physical state and have a better understanding of ourselves.
Signs You’re Emotionally and Mentally Exhausted
You’re easily irritated
You feel unmotivated even with things you normally enjoy
You’re experiencing anxiety or panic attacks
You have trouble sleeping
You have no patience and find yourself being short with people
You’re experiencing indigestion. You have a stomach ache all the time or feel like there’s butterflies in your stomach
You start crying unexpectedly
You feel detached from reality. Feeling empty
Women are especially bad at giving themselves permission to take a moment of alone time. Our role in society is to nurture without considering our own needs and put ourselves last and prioritise our loved ones. This is why it’s important to allow yourself to pause and give yourself permission without feeling guilty. Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes….including you!
If we don’t take time out we risk burning ourselves out. We run on empty and this can affect our energy levels, mood, passion and drive. We become bogged down with stresses and strains of everyday life and become less efficient and productive. Emotionally we can feel resentful, angry, frustrated, deflated and stuck. Taking 15-30 minutes out refresh our minds and realign is the key to overcoming or avoiding these situations.
Treating stress and anxiety is challenging, especially for people who aren’t used to self-care. However, the intention for more self-care for at least 15-30 minutes a day is a powerful way to begin building this positive habit. Everybody is different some might use this time for meditation, do Yoga or to sit in the park and listen to the birds sing.
Here are 5 easy ways you can give yourself permission to relax:
Take a walk in Nature
Take 30 minutes and go for a walk in a local park or take a stroll near the seashore if you are fortunate enough to live near by the seaside. Getting out of your regular routine can revitalise the senses and give your mind clarity, keep you grounded and put things into perspective. Take time to notice your surroundings and be in the now.
Mindfulness/Meditation
Start by Taking 15 minutes out of your day when possible and listen to a guided meditation of your choice. If you prefer an unguided mediation look at different techniques that resonate with you and put in to practice and try and build from doing 15 minutes a day to 30 minutes a day. Mindfulness/Meditation has been shown to be effective cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in group therapy but practicing alone the exercises is still beneficial.
Yoga
Try a 20 0r 30 minutes Yoga session of your choice. Whatever feels good for you in that moment. Focus on your breath and breathe deeply into your stomach and be fully present in the now. You can practice yoga anytime but the best time to practice is in the morning. It warms up your digestive system and helps nutrients move easily through the body causing it to metabolise carbs and fats more quickly, helps to regulate your sleep rhythm and balance your hormones, helps to build a healthy, consistent routine, boosts your metabolism, prevents injury and achiness throughout the day
Get Creative
If you have creative flair and enjoy painting or drawing take some time out to do this. Or if you play a musical instrument or enjoy singing make it a regular thing. Engage in something that allows you to express yourself and let your creativity flow. Too many people suppress their creativity or lifelong dreams for convenience or out of fear of being judged. When we are open to our gifts we are able to connect to the source that makes us truly happy and by doing this we can learn more about ourselves and be more self-accepting.
Write it Down
Some people find having a journal helps release emotions and help you gain control of your emotions and improve your mental health and allows you to self- reflect. Focus on listing what you are grateful for or write what is on your mind no filters write whatever comes to mind warts and all. This method can be quite therapeutic.
Give yourself permission to relax, revive and rejuvenate
Giving yourself permission to incorporate pausing and self-care in your everyday life is critical. Too many people especially women would look at this blog post and feel selfish or embracing this alone time. Self-care isn’t selfish it’s the exact opposite. Self-care activities allow us to revive our energy stores. It improves the mood and makes one feel more peaceful. It has a powerful impact on the way we live our lives and how we interact with others and the amount of energy we have to spend time with family and friends.
Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s about self-respect and necessary to be the best version of yourselves. We must honour our needs realising that when we do this you thrive when you give yourself a little time to pause.
This time is non-negotiable, and you should never feel guilty for embracing it. It’s a basic human need that too many of us overlook. So starting from today begin to embrace self-care and give yourself permission to pause, relax, revive and rejuvenate.
