Relax and Enjoy It!
Posted: Saturday, January 28, 2012
by Nancy Daniels
Voice Dynamic
What does relaxation mean to me? Not working, not cooking, not writing – not even gardening – not doing anything that I would do in my normal day-to-day existence. I love to work, I love to cook, I love to write, and, I especially love to garden; but, I do not consider any of these things relaxing because while doing any one of those pleasurable ‘jobs,’ my mind is on what else needs to be done. I live by the clock.
Part of the difficulty for many women who work, run a household, and raise children is learning how to relax and not feel guilty about it. I am blessed in that I run my own business out of my home which means I can schedule my time accordingly. However, that does not mean I can just stop working whenever I want. Deadlines and the myriad of duties involved in running a small business require that I am on top of every detail, every moment of every day. That can keep me from relaxing.
While Dianne Lehmann discussed how diaphragmatic breathing is her way of dealing with stress in her excellent article, The Moment That Refreshes, I quite agree with her. Diaphragmatic breathing is the foundation of my business and I do it 24-7. In that sense you could call me a professional breather; and, I have found it to be the best means of eliminating stress as well as minor pain. It is, without a doubt, the healthiest thing I do every day; but, it is not how I relax.
The greatest relief I get is a 10-15 minute nap I take around lunchtime. Considering my day starts at 5 am, this is a tremendous boost for my energy level, because by noon, I am often feeling tired. It is amazing what that short amount of sleep can do for the rest of my day. My dad and oldest brother do the same thing as well.
For pure relaxation, I need my mind in a ‘closed’ position and sleep is the best means of accomplishing that. Upon awaking, I am refreshed, invigorated, and rarin’ to go. No, it is not the same thing as enjoying the tastes, the sights, the sounds, and the pure delight one finds relaxing on a cruise ship, but for the moment, it will do.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Great job. Aha. Diaphragmatic breathing is something my Mom, a professional actress taught us kids. Your bio sounds fascinating. Love your work.Thanks Christofer. You are one of the few who actually understands the breathing. Glad to hear it.
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