National Relaxation Day Is August 15th

Today, August 15th is National Relaxation Day. So take time to relax, breathe, and take things easy. It is the day to de-stress yourself.

Here are ways to relax and shake off those stress away:

Take a mental vacation – Close your eyes and imagine a relaxing place, such as a beach, a mountain view, or a cozy room. Notice everything you can about your spot. The more vivid a picture you paint in your mind, the more your body will respond to the invitation to relax.

Smell and savor your food – Instead of wolfing down your lunch while standing in the kitchen or sitting at your desk, take 10 minutes to eat mindfully. Smell your food before you begin and chew each bite several times, savoring the taste.

Vocalize your thoughts – Vocalizing your thoughts about things that are bothering you is actually a great stress release — it gets what’s troubling you out of your head so you can stop dwelling and start moving forward.

Do less stuff – When you’re stressed, look at your to-do list and cross three things off. Whether you move them to next week or decide they’re not necessary, this exercise helps you keep enough time to accommodate the unexpected or spend an afternoon doing whatever you darn well please.

Be happy with small things – Take a moment to appreciate the many things you have to be grateful for.

Breathe and breathe deep – Try taking a full breath now — inhale deeply into your belly, then allow every last drop of air to release on the exhale.