Relaxing is hard work
Cats: Uncategorized|It sounds stupid, but it’s true.
When you haven’t done it in 20 years, relaxing is a learned behaviour.
I know other people do it. And I’ve heard it’s good for them. I’ve seen my cat do it. She’s good at relaxing. And relaxing is good for the cat, by all appearances.
But I’m not sure I know how to do it because I’m not in practice. It’s not that I’m a person who thrives on stress. I don’t. My neck and shoulders ache constantly with tension and too much work at the computer.
The aches and stresses are due to circumstances of life for the past 20 years, which have been pretty high-octane: founding and running a business, completing a masters degree, having two children, moving I don’t know how many times with two international moves thrown in for fun, a bunch of different jobs, and late night writing-habit (you know, to keep the sanity.)
I know I’m not alone in this. I’ve heard a lot of women in my phase of life describe these circumstances and symptoms. Some men too. And thanks to some recent and stress-inducing growth in the business, I’ve been able to pull back from an active “doing everything” role to a mentoring, overseeing role. Ahhhh.
This is supposed to allow me to relax, which is great in theory. But how?
I’ve had moments: The other day, I think I relaxed for a half hour at the beach. But then I became distracted and a little stressed by children on water toys not being properly monitored by parents. I can’t relax in that circumstance.
I tried to relax in front of the TV the other night and fell asleep which is a form of relaxing I suppose, but early sleep means waking up in the middle of the night and not falling back to sleep.
Being at the cottage helps, but the anti-relaxing sharks are still nipping at my heels.
I really hope I’m not turning into stress-aholic or a relaxation-phobe.
Any tips? Does anyone know how it’s done?
What do you do to relax?
July 10th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Two words: Tylenol PM.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
…Because you are forced to relax when in a coma.
July 10th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
1) Tumbler Glass (all the better if heavy lead glass tumbler) 2-3 fingers of favorite Scotch (Talisker is my fave, if you are not a scotch drinker try Johnny Walker Blue Label - it just slides down like water) Tiny splash of H2O (nearby spring or well water best) - Sit down and enjoy
2) Mint leaves, muddle in glass with 1 tsp sugar, annd rum and fresh squeezed lime juice - relax mojito lady
At least you won’t have to worry about being a stressoholic - an alcoholic? - Sure, but only your liver will be stressed, and it rarely complains until the very end :), and at that point you’re usually comatose…
July 10th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
OK, so I can see a coma trend emerging here. So to relax all I have to do is pop on one of my old leo sayer albums? Then pop a tylenol PM and then chase it was a couple shots of Scotch. JEsus, I want to relax, people, not die.
July 11th, 2008 at 12:41 am
If it makes you feel any better, I’m not all that great at relaxing either. It makes me antsy if I have to sit still for too long, unless I am at the computer of course.
Relaxing is overrated anyway.
July 11th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
I wish I knew the secret. I’m not a Type A at all — and yet I always worry about work, check my BlackBerry nonstop (even at concerts), have nightmares about work. I love what I do — but not that much.
July 12th, 2008 at 2:09 am
No no, don’t put on Leo Sayer whatever you do. It’ll make you feel like dancing, not relaxing.
July 12th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Snort…Beth, checking the blackberry at concerts…I bring my stupid iPod touch to bed, and will be surfing while my two guys are snoring beside me…
July 16th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I am a 10th dan in the art of relaxation. After a brief stint with anxiety I made it a life long goal to relax…even under intense pressure.
There are various strategies I use to eliminate anxiety from my life:
1) The instant retard: If someone is bothering you they become instantly retarded. I have sympathy and empathy for that.
2) The worst case analysis: What’s the worst that could happen? So? Life continues.
3) My mental health: Ensuring that my mental health comes first and foremost benefits the whole world.
4) Tao principle: Good and bad are only that if you believe it to be. Shit happens…smile and move on.
It is difficult to capture in a few lines. The bottom line is never pass up an opportunity to analyse why you feel the way you do.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Ahahahah! Dick! The Instant Retard! I love it!!!
I also love the word retard and like to use it often.
That is all.
July 19th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Interesting you bring this up on the blog. I am also trying to ensure that I have time to relax and create some work/life balance. It’s been a long time since I had a real post on my blog and I am starting to feel guilty about that…maybe this will be my topic.