Do you think that you are a bad person when you relax instead of working? Is it one of your beliefs that taking time off is unnecessary? Are you sure that doing nothing is an attitude of laziness?

Have you ever felt burned out because you overworked yourself? Have you ever had stress symptoms that made it impossible for you to continue working on your projects? Have you ever become sick since you didn’t take enough care of yourself?

The truth about work and relaxation

For each phase of productivity, we need a phase of relaxation that allows us to recharge our batteries and to generate new energy for upcoming projects. We should follow the example of competitive athletes: After each phase of strong activity we should calm down, relax and loosen ourselves including soul, mind and body. We cannot be in a relaxed state when our muscles are tense.

If we don’t accept that we need relaxation in between projects, we slowly but steadily get burned out. Feeling burned out makes it impossible for us to continue working on our projects because we have a lack of energy in this state.

Don’t forget that it is a part of life sometimes to do nothing. For some people this part is very hard since they believe that busy people are better people, or since they cannot stand the thoughts that they have when they do nothing. Doing nothing should be included in your schedule from time to time, anyway, no matter if you like it or not.

You are not a better human because you keep yourself busy all day long. When we cannot stand doing nothing, we should gently ask ourselves why. Is there something in our life that we haven’t faced yet even though we should? What is troubling us when we do nothing? Do we believe that we are not valuable humans when we are not active?

Will relaxation help us to become more productive?

The mean attention span of a human being is about 45 minutes. This means that the average human needs a pause after 45 minutes of paying attention. This pause shouldn’t be longer than 10 to 15 minutes

When we relax, we move from a tense state of activity into a state of alpha waves that makes us very creative and gives us new ideas that we wouldn’t get otherwise. Therefore, we should not only relax between projects, but also between short time intervals that we work on a project. When we follow these relaxation times, we set our full creative potential free for the project. The goals are attained more easily and the results are even better.

Time of relaxation that we spend with family and friends makes us happier in life and creates new energy for upcoming projects. When we spend time with supportive people, we gain new insights, and we get out of isolation.

Always remember that you have not only the right to relax between activities, but that you also have the duty to do so if you want to stay healthy and live your life with the most possible energy!

We can choose between different methods of relaxation:

- Going for a walk (with or without dog)
- Exercising
- Meditation
- Sports
- Yoga
- Reading a book that you always wanted to read
- Taking one or more days off
- Only doing what you like without any rules
- Hiking in the mountains
- Getting a massage
- Attending a wellness spa
- Listening to music that you like
- Meeting friends inside or outside the house
- Painting
- Writing about something you always wanted to write about
- Playing an instrument
- Lying on a sofa or bed and just doing nothing

Can you come up with other ideas?

Make your personal list of activities or inactivities that relax you.

Is it possible to relax too often?

Yes, of course it is. With relaxation it is the same as with everything else in life. Finding the right dose for you is important. You should relax so often that you don’t get feelings of burn out, and that you have enough energy to work on your projects. The relaxation intervals between short periods that you are working on your projects should be short too. Try to find out how much relaxation you need by testing different options.

I suggest you to find some activities that have a relaxing effect on you and that you love doing. The more you like these activities, the simpler it will be for you to make a regular habit out of doing them. Make consistent relaxation a constant habit in your life. When you relax regularly, the effects on your life and projects are ideal.

Practicing certain meditation can be used to provide you with a great deal of relaxation and stress relief. Anyone looking to free themselves from stress and anxiety should try these simple meditation techniques.

Breathing

Breathing is the very mechanism of life and can be used as a very effective tool in meditation leading you to blissful relaxation. The first thing you need to do is sit down in a comfortable setting – no you don’t need to sit cross-legged on the floor – close your eyes and start breathing through your nose deliberately yet silently while you count to three. Then exhale – also through the nose. But now you should be counting to six, thus breathing out twice as much as you take in. Repeat this for several minutes concentrating on practicing to breathe in on a three count and breathe out on a six count always through your nose.

Breath Concentration

The second technique is also an easy one. While you are seated with your eyes closed, breathe normally through your nose. Place all your attention on your breath, concentrating on following it through your nose, into your throat and down to your chest. Then concentrate on following it back up as it passes through your chest, into your throat and out through your nose. Since you are concentrating on following your breath, you will be paying attention to its flow and not thinking about anything at the moment. Your thoughts will slow down producing a natural peaceful state of mind that with repeated use will heighten your experience of relaxation.

Breathing up your spine

Again, sit down with your eyes closed and breed normally through your nose. However, while inhaling concentrated on her breath beginning at the base of your spine and moving up all the way to the top of your head. Visualize your breath at the top your head and simply exhale. You did not visualize anything beyond this while you exhale or force anything to happen. Just let the focus of your mind follow your breath from the base of your spine all away up and out the top of your head, which is known as the crown chakra. This is where repetition is a vital part because you may not feel anything in the beginning. Yet, with repeated use you’ll start to feel a tingling sensation that should be quite pleasurable. This particular technique is going to require a little more practice if you are to be successful at awakening what’s called your kundalini, a form of spiritual energy.

I Am, I Said

This technique includes the affirmation of existence. When sitting with eyes closed, silently repeat to yourself each time you inhale, “I am.” When exhaling, focus on existing in that moment, concentrating on the moment and not thinking of anything else. While concentrating on the simple act of being, do not add anything into the effort other than just existing not as a someone or something. You are aiming for a “feeling,” not a thought that. You exist beyond all -simply notice the feeling beyond thought that you exist.

These techniques are designed to produce great relaxation especially when conducted on a regular daily basis. Take 15-30 minutes per day to sit back and relax through simple meditation.