Most of us need this on a pretty regular basis. That’s what a vacation is for right? But there is an official day for relaxation. August 15th is the day, so here are some great ways to unwind.
As this is considered a national holiday, sorry school and work still on, its a great opportunity to look into ways to destress your day. By all means these methods work on normal days too.
Meditation
Meditation is a habitual process of quieting your mind and focusing on redirecting your thoughts.
Mediations can increase awareness of yourself and your surroundings. Many people think of it as a way to reduce stress and develop concentration. 15 minutes of deep meditation can energize you like a nap. People also use the practice to develop other beneficial habits and feelings, such as a positive mood and outlook, self-discipline, healthy sleep patterns and even increased pain tolerance.
I learned some really good technics when I took professional yoga. You do not have to use yoga or religion based meditation to get the benefits. Simple mindfulness meditation focus on your breathing and body. As you become more focused, you notice more about them. For instance you may notice your breathing a little fast, your heart rate is high or your blood pressure is elevated. Now that you’re focusing on it you can lower those symptoms. You’ll feel the state of your body. You’re muscles may say you twisted the wrong way, or over did it chasing the kids.
Visualations
Visualization or visualisation (see spelling differences) is any technique for creating images, diagrams, or animations to communicate a message. Visualization through visual imagery has been an effective way to communicate both abstract and concrete ideas since the dawn of humanity. Examples from history include cave paintings, Egyptian hieroglyphs, Greek geometry, and Leonardo da Vinci‘s revolutionary methods of technical drawing for engineering and scientific purposes.
No matter the method you prefer take some time for you and try some relaxation. How do you relax? Leave us a comment and tell how and why, best of all the results…
Once upon a time, a real group called the Secret Society of Happy People decided to dedicate a day to the pursuit of happiness. Members of the society wanted to let happy feelings linger inside them every day. In 2000, the Secret Society of Happy People expanded the celebration to Happiness Happens Month in August.
Happiness is a choice. Remembering happiness does not mean you are problem free. That kind of life doesn’t exist. As the Stoics of Ancient Greece observed, happiness is all about the quality of your thoughts. Happiness is not a destination, but rather a life-long pursuit. Joy can be anywhere at any time. Don’t limit yourself to searching for pleasure. Enjoy everything and anything that makes you happy. Oprah Winfrey said it wasn’t until she learned to be happy that good things started happening to her.
If you struggle with finding happiness, you can learn to be happy. There is plenty of helpful advice available to guide you in the right direction. Reading self-help material is an excellent place to start. Here are a few published works you might want to read to help you in your pursuit of happiness:
Most of the best “how to be happy” books and videos boil down to variations of the Ancient Greek philosophy of stoicism (not to be confused with the modern use of the word). The essence of stoicism is this: no matter what is wrong with the world in general, and your life in particular, you can choose to be happy if you learn how.
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any set of circumstances, to choose one’s way.” -Viktor Frankl
HISTORY The Secret Society of Happy People started celebrating happiness with “Admit You’re Happy Day,” on August 8, 1999.
HOW TO OBSERVE Notice more happy moments and share them with others. Use #HappinessHappensMonth on social media.
National Florida Day on January 25 recognizes the 27th state to join the United States.
The Sunshine State is home to the oldest established city in the country. With over 400 years of history, St. Augustine’s streets and colonial architecture have stories to tell. Founded by Spanish explorers in 1565, visit the city and walk in the same footsteps as 16th-century bishops, ponder the escapades of pirates and the whereabouts of lost gold and learn about the lives of European settlers.
East and West Florida became the 14th and 15th British Colonies after the end of the French and Indian War in 1763. However, in 1783, after the end of the American Revolutionary War, The Treaty of Paris returned Florida to Spain.
The present-day borders of Florida were absorbed through two transactions: The Louisianna Purchase in 1803 brought East Florida with it (but not without dispute from the French) and through a U.S. intervention in an uprising in West Florida in 1812 causing West Florida to join the Mississippi Territory.
With an average high temperature of 79.5°F, it should be no surprise that Floridian John Gorrie brought refrigeration and air conditioning to the world in 1851.
Add to that, more than half the year with partly cloudy to sunny days, the invention of sunblock would be a necessity, too. Hungary born pharmacist, Benjamin Green, invented a sunscreen in 1944 which later became a tanning lotion known as Coppertone.
Launching astronauts into space, Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center in Brevard Country, is a fun and unique visit. While Disney, Universal, and others have rides, themes, and shows. This place makes both history and the future a tangible experience. We just happened to be there on a day they launched a new satellite!
Cape Canaveral and the home of the Kennedy Space Center in Brevard County has come a long way from its first launch in 1950. From Appollo missions to Hubble Telescopes and Mars Rovers, Cape Canaveral continues missions well into the future. Missions include commercial ventures including SpaceX launches.
Florida offers more than enough to do and see. From man-made worlds and relaxing beaches to long, colorful and intricate history, the Sunshine State’s open spaces and sunny faces require more than one visit.
Official Florida
State Capital – Tallahassee State Nickname – The Sunshine State State Motto – In God We Trust State Song – Old Folks at Home State Bird – Mockingbird State Reptile – American Alligator State Flower – Orange Blossom State Wildflower – Coreopsis State Animal – Florida Panther State Fish – Largemouth bass State Beverage – Orange Juice State Stone – Agatized coral State Shell – Horse Conch State Tree – Sabal Palm State Song – Swanee River, Old Folks at Home State Gemstone – Moonstone State Butterfly – Zebra Longwing Butterfly
Florida is also home of the oldest noncontinuous settlement in America. The City of five flags know as Pensacola is actually older than St Augustine. The original settlement was wiped out by a hurricane. So St Augustine claims the oldest continuous city.
For a complete list of Florida State and National Parks & Historic Sites visit www.floridastateparks.org and www.nps.gov. Check out a few of the featured sites around the state below.
Cuban Sandwhich Conch Fritters Stone Crab Key Lime Pie Strawberry Shortcake Apalachicola Oysters Craft Beer Gator Bites Orange Juice Kumquats
HOW TO OBSERVE
Join a local as we dig into Florida’s sunny beaches and rich history. Seek buried treasures and explore all Florida’s fascinating culture! Look to the past or look to the future and use #NationalFloridaDay to share on social media.
National Hug Day or National Hugging Day occurs on January 21st and is officially recognized by the United States Copyright Office, but is not a public holiday.
The purpose of the day is to help everyone show more emotion in public. The only way to celebrate the day is by offering a hug to anyone and everyone you want. While National Hug Day and the Free Hugs Campaign share many similarities, there is not an association between the two.
Whether you hug a family member or a stranger, the mental and physical health benefits are the same. From the day we are born, hugs or touch improve our sleep. Hugging, like cuddling, releases oxytocin. On its own, this hormone provides tremendous health benefits. Not only does it gives us feel-good hormones, but it reduces pain. Receiving a hug helps reduce stress, lowers blood pressure and lowers the risk of heart disease. It also eases anxiety.
In my research to help my husband, I came across the benefits of these marvelous creations. The weighted blanket feels like a hug and quiets things like anxiety, helps reduce the symptoms of restless leg syndrome, and helps you get a deeper, better nights sleep. So I got him one for Christmas. He uses it every night. Instead of waking 10 times a night, he sleeps through the night. The Restless leg syndrome has quieted, he is no longer jerked awake by overactive nerve activity in his legs and feet.
I was skeptical that this would work, but after months and months of interrupted sleep and medical avenues not providing any relief, we were getting desperate. I figured what have we got to lose? I highly recommend this especially to anyone dealing with similar symptoms or issues.
Each year on January 6th, National Cuddle Up Day encourages us to snuggle up with someone for the health benefits and more!
January is typically some of the coldest days of the year, so what better way to stay warm and reap the health benefits of cuddling on National Cuddle Up Day? Whether it’s a three dog night (a night so cold it takes three dogs to cuddle up with to stay warm) or only slightly chilly, there are multiple benefits to cuddling with your favorite humans or pets.
Cuddling releases oxytocin. This hormone alone has tremendous health benefits. Besides giving us warm and fuzzy feelings, oxytocin reduces pain. So when the cold has made those muscles and joints ache, cuddling can help reduce those aches and pains.
Oxytocin also helps reduce heart disease, lowers blood pressure, stress, and anxiety. If it weren’t free, insurance carriers would probably cover cuddling since it’s such a huge health benefit!
Communication is more than just e-mails, texts, or conversation. Physical touch can communicate trust, commitment, safety, and reassurance. This goes for human to human contact as well as human to pet contact. Cuddling expresses all these things, which are vital to a healthy relationship.
Cuddling also boosts sexual desire. Dopamine is released, stimulating the brain to seek pleasure. But dopamine also can improve memory and focus as well.
Don’t have someone to cuddle up with? Make an appointment for a massage. Studies show massage provides similar benefits.
