SOMETIMES WE ALL JUST NEED TO STOP what we’re doing, take a breath, and center ourselves.
If you work 5+ days a week, have children, or are in school; you really don’t have a lot of time to be alert of your own necessities. You are so absorbed on getting the job done to please your boss, complete numerous essays for numerous classes to get decent grades, or have to take care of your child’s needs, that whatever you are feeling; stress, anxiety, exhaustion, overwhelmed, etc.; gets shoved aside. We run on batteries and when our batteries start to diminish, we need to rejuvenate and recharge to keep going.
Feeling physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted are very common in hardworking adults, so taking breaks is keen in staying healthy.
Physical Break
Take a day off! If you are the kind of person that wakes up 3 hours earlier to go to the gym or have a list of errands that need to be done in one day, just take that day off. If you are running low on fuel, those errands can wait. Take the day to rest and relax!
Allow yourself a little extra sleep. Whether it’s going to bed a half-hour earlier or by sleeping in an extra fifteen minutes, that little extra rest is good for you.
Replace strenuous exercise with something less intense. If you need to get some sort of exercise in for your day to feel complete, do something less intense and try a form of yoga or go for a nice walk.
Relax in a sauna or get a massage. Relax your muscles, let someone get rid of the tension, or sweat out chemicals that build up in your body. Whatever works best for you, just do it because they minimize anxiety, boost the immune system, and reduce depression and anxiety.
Take a long, hot bath at the end of the day, to relax your muscles and joints, calm your mind, and rest.
Take a break from alcohol, processed food, and sugar. Cleansing your body of any toxins will help build energy, so that you don’t feel as much fatigue.
Mental Break
Take some time to meditate, even if it’s just for five minutes before work, on break, or before bed. Clear your mind, focus on yourself, and escape from reality.
Do deep breathing techniques to calm your nerves and clear your thoughts.
Give yourself a complete day without any financial worries. Put down the bills and statements. They are not going anywhere, so take a day to focus on your needs.
Sing, paint, dance, express yourself creatively. It’s awfully hard to stress and over-think when you’re engaged in something fun and expressive. Blast the music and go nuts!
Go outside and immerse yourself in nature. Feel the ground or grass underneath your feet and focus on being present. Enjoy the swaying trees, the way the sun feels on your skin, and listen to the animals around you. Bask in nature and you will lose track of reality.
Focus on ONE task. I know in your head you have a list of tasks that need to get done but don’t overwhelm yourself. Just do one at time. They will get done. Slow and steady always wins the race.
Take a day off from negative, draining people, even the ones you love. Take a day for yourself. They will understand.
Simply sit. Do nothing. It’s good for you.
Emotional Break
Release emotions, for example, write them down, write a poem, draw them in a picture, taking a kick boxing class, talk to someone. Just release the feelings!
Don’t get caught up in your feelings! If you are having a negative day, don’t let those feelings take over, break through by listening to happy music or take a nice walk to shake off whatever is weighing you down.
Count your successes. Make a note of all the things you’ve done well and be proud of yourself. Motivate yourself to keep going.
Replace regrets with dreams. Whenever you start thinking about what you should have done, shift your focus to what you plan to do now. It’s far more empowering and a lot less draining.
Disconnect from technology. Every time you catch yourself judging yourself because of something you saw on social media or wish you had because of something someone else has, or why aren’t they answering my text messages; things like that always cause anxiety and stress, so consciously choose to avoid technology. It’s a lot easier to disconnect ourselves from our phones or social media, then it is to disconnect from our emotions.
Cry if you need to. It’s really okay to cry. It can help you release chemicals and hormones and create a more relaxed, positive state of mind.
Write down the things you’re grateful or thankful for. Identifying the things that have brought us joy is a powerful way to boost endorphins and bring you bliss.
Following these tricks for a physical, mental, and emotional break; will really help you to revitalize yourself. It is perfectly normal to feel strained or overwhelmed, but it’s up to you to do something about it! It’s never too late to start your break today!
