Ways to Incorporate Relaxation into Everyday Life

The demands of a modern lifestyle can often feel overwhelming. Having deadlines to meet, a ‘to-do’ list that seems never-ending, and maybe a family to look after can all add up to a very busy existence. Adding to that, if you live in one of Asia’s big cities such as Bangkok or KL, you can find yourself in amongst a constant hive of activity. The traffic, sights, sounds, and smells could leave you feeling stressed and wired, and a long way away from a ‘zen-like’ existence.

Meditation music or podcasts

It’s not recommended to listen to these while you’re driving in case you become too relaxed! However, if you take public transport, listening to a meditation podcast, or putting on some relaxing meditation music can help you to zone out and relax. Resist the temptation to scroll through Facebook or Instagram and do something that will nourish your body instead!

Put limits on social media

Social media can become addictive for many. Be honest with yourself. How do you feel when you hear your social notifications go off on your phone? Do you get a little jolt of adrenaline and feel like you need to look at it immediately? Do you check your phone constantly throughout your day, and do you find it becomes more of a focus than anything else in your life? 

If these points resonate with you, then consider defining some personal limits that will work for you. For example, you might only choose to check your social media accounts at certain times during the day. It may also be a good idea to switch off notifications altogether, so you can’t see or hear them unless you purposely want to do that.

Find time to breathe

This might initially sound like a silly suggestion because after all, we’re breathing all the time! The thing is that if you are stressed out you are probably breathing into the top part of the chest. This is indicative of a stress response and isn’t conducive to good relaxation.

Learn to breathe from the belly and choose specific times throughout the day when you will stop and take 5 or 10 deep breaths with your eyes closed. Place your hands on your belly. As you breathe in, you should feel the belly rise as you fill your lungs with air.

‘Me’ time is important

Do something that is just for you, every day. Make sure it’s something that you enjoy doing, not something that you feel you ‘have’ to do. This could be something creative like writing in a journal or painting a picture.

 You might feel like you don’t have time to spend on yourself every day. In this case, take a look at what you’re spending your time on throughout the day. What is something that doesn’t add value to your life that you could eliminate, or cut down on? Aim for 15-30 minutes of ‘me’ time if you can (or start with less if you need to). You might be surprised at the extra productivity it brings for you, so that you end up saving time elsewhere in your day.