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The end of a long work shift is like a cool drink of water on a hot sunny day. Sweet relief, freedom at last! If you’re like most people in the world, you have an activity or activities that you use to help you unwind and “check out” at the end of the day. Kind of a mental vacation after a stressful and hectic period of time.
With the availability of entertainment so prevalent and in so many different modes, even focusing solely on a TV show can feel like a chore, especially if that show isn’t riveting and dramatic. If the first couple of minutes of the show aren’t as exciting as you thought they would be, perhaps it’s time for a quick check up on your social media accounts to see what other people have been up to. Next thing you know, it’s way past bedtime and you won’t be getting enough sleep again. Better grab a large coffee on the way to work tomorrow.
With so much available to us in the form of TV, social media, youtube, on-demand TV, books, magazines, etc it’s hard to justify feeling bored. But that’s exactly what I have noticed myself feeling lately. I surf through Netflix for longer than it would take to actually watch a show, finally deciding with lackluster enthusiasm on something which may or may not hold my interest for more than ten minutes. Even if it is fairly interesting, the lure of possibly finding something more entertaining elsewhere calls me throughout, begging me to just check my phone real quick or pull out the laptop and see what my “friends” are up to.
The problem with this kind of mental refresher is its lack of any refreshment qualities at all. Time spent being entertained is not helping my brain relax, it’s only helping my brain ignore. I spend the day thinking about all of the things that need to be done and who needs to be where at what time and what jobs are coming up and what materials need to be ordered and – oh, now it’s time for bed. Time to brush teeth and get to sleep quick because I only have seven hours before I have to get up and I have to be ready to go tomorrow morning because there’s so much to get done. My only downtime of the day was spent watching someone else live their life through a heavily scripted and edited lens to make sure it looked as fun and exciting as possible. Compare that highlight reel to my humdrum normalcy and I have a recipe for depression and envy.
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Finding an activity that promotes positivity, and then creating a ritual around it, can help promote a relaxing and mentally awakening environment that will allow ourselves time to actively rejuvenate and prepare for the stresses of the next day. People all over the world have found ingeniously simple ways to provide themselves the opportunity to remove their stresses and responsibilities for a short time. In colder climates, this tends to involve sitting in hot water or steam, often in a communal setting for relaxed socializing. In Sweden they take coffee breaks with friends, known as fika, to help unwind and give time for light-hearted joking and laughing.
Even if you don’t always have or want a group of friends with which to be jovial, creating a small ritual for yourself can give you something to look forward to throughout the day, and it can serve as a small window of time you set aside for yourself to briefly escape reality. Some people enjoy a small glass of wine with some light snacks when they get home from work. Some choose to sit with a hot cup of tea as they reconnect with themselves. As long as it involves some quiet time and introspection, it will prove beneficial.
The advantages of encompassing food and/or drink into these routines are real and documented. Especially when used to help foster connections with others, food and the simple act of eating tells our brains that we are in a safe place and we can let down our guard a bit. Sharing food and time with someone we care for helps us build our relationships as we enjoy a communal pleasure.
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Something I have been trying to incorporate into my nightly routine recently has been just a few minutes of meditation before bed. I focus on my breathing and try not to let any thoughts invade my quiet space. Easier said than done, but at least the simple act of focusing on your breathing patterns will help your mind relax and aid the transition into sleep. If you do find yourself thinking about the day, or what needs to be done tomorrow, gently bring yourself back to your breathing.
I like to set the lighting very dim and maybe put on some quiet music or nature sounds to help set an atmosphere of relaxation and tranquility. Ten minutes or so of this and I find myself feeling calm and peaceful, and my sleep patterns seem to be more stable and restful.
Reading a good book, while still considered entertainment, allows us to engage in a scripted storyline while still being encouraged to use our imagination and wonder. Someone is painting a picture for us, but we must fully engross ourselves in order to view the painting. Not only that, the painting we see is completely subjective, and everyone who sees it will see their own particular version. Plus it gives us an excuse to curl up on something comfy and relax. Add to that a hot cup of liquid comfort and you have an oasis for your body and your mind.
Whatever it is you find helps you unwind, try to make it into a routine that you practice every day for two weeks. Schedule it into your calendar if that helps. If you can keep it up that long, why not try for two more weeks? By the time those have gone by, it’ll be second nature to you. You may even feel like you have a whole new outlook on life. If you give a little to yourself, you’ll be much more able to give yourself to others.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
