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…
December 17 is National Say It Now Day as a day to tell friends and loved ones how important they are to us by expressing gratitude for all the ways they’ve impacted our lives. With the year winding down, it’s the perfect time to show gratitude to those around us for all they have done during the year.
We all need to make time for gratitude. National Say It Now Day gives us a chance to pause and reflect on what people mean to us. We encourage people everywhere to take a moment to tell their friends and loved ones how much they mean to them while they are still around to hear it. Don’t wait! Say It Now!
Practicing gratitude is more than saying “thank you.” It’s about showing appreciation for the good things brought into our life. Each time we practice gratitude, we create a sense of happiness and positivity. In fact, the happiness we create not only shifts our own thinking, it also shifts the thinking of those receiving it.
If everyone practiced daily gratitude, we could change ourselves and the planet for the better. ~LegacyPlus.org
5 Benefits of Gratitude
Research shows that gratitude can enhance our moods, decrease stress and improve our overall health and wellbeing. On average, grateful people tend to have fewer stress-related illnesses. Research also shows people who show and practice gratitude are more physically fit, happier, and have more satisfying personal and professional relationships, too. Showing consistent gratitude improves:
Mental Health – Gratitude has been known to help people feel happier. In fact, showing gratitude helps reduce anxiety and depression and even manager stress.
Self-Esteem – Showing gratitude motivates people to care for themselves, both physically and mentally. When someone practices gratitude daily, they become more aware of the positive impact it has.
Relationships – Practicing gratitude strengthens relationships with others. Each time you show gratitude you share positive emotions that encourage others to return the kindness.
Positive mindset – People who practice gratitude daily tend to face obstacles in a more optimistic manner, including solving problems and making decisions without over-reacting.
Builds Resilience – Each time we practice gratitude, we learn to focus on positive emotions, which results in healing or recovering from hardship quicker and easier. By facing any obstacle life throws at us with gratitude and grace, we program our brain to realize moments of uncertainty are only temporary.
National Say It Now Day presents the perfect opportunity to express our gratitude to those who have played important roles in our lives.
HISTORY BEHIND: NATIONAL SAY IT NOW DAY
This new National Day is an opportunity to tell friends and loved ones how important they are by expressing our gratitude for all the ways they’ve impacted our lives. Legacy+ was inspired to create National Say It Now Day in honor of Walter Green, author of This Is the Moment, whose birthday is on December 17.
According to the story, a close friend asked Walter if he would organize a celebration of life for him after he died. Walter gave it some thought, but something about the idea bothered him. If he was going to stand up and share his appreciation for everything his friend had meant to him, why wouldn’t he do it when he was still around to hear it? So, instead, Walter organized a living tribute.
When Green turned 70, his birthday gift to himself was to travel for an entire year to visit everyone who had been important in his life. The trip became the inspiration for his first book, This is the Moment (2010). It also led Walter to launch the ‘Say It Now’ movement, which is a world-wide celebration of gratitude.
There are so many ways to show gratitude. Think about making a phone call or writing a note to show appreciation for someone who has helped you. You can show appreciation for your family by inviting them over for dinner to let them know you’re grateful for being in your life. You can also start a gratitude journal and begin with a list of things you are thankful for.
Show us how you practice gratitude and encourage others to do the same on social media using the hashtag #NationalSayItNowDay.
