How To Relax After A Busy Day

But how do you relax when there are children to feed, bills to pay, and a house to clean? It may take some creative thinking, but here are a few ideas that many people find useful:

1. Take a short nap. Putting your feet up for fifteen to twenty minutes after getting home from work can be a life saver, literally. Take the phone off the hook and close your eyes as you shut out the world and doze. Within thirty minutes or so you can get up and feel refreshed, knowing your body will thank you for this reprieve between a daytime job and evening chores.

2. Enjoy a reading break. Pick up your favorite newspaper, magazine, or book to browse an article or chapter. Escaping to another world through the printed word can help get you out from under the daily load of pressures in your own life. Whether fiction or non-fiction, reading material allows you to use your imagination and creativity as your mind grasps new ideas and information. This time away from your regular activities can provide a buffer against the onslaught of duties that await you later on.

3. Treat yourself. Make a hot cup of specialty coffee or fragrant tea. Enjoy a cookie or two. Snitch a couple of mints for a refreshing taste. Invigorate yourself with a small plate of fresh veggies and dip. Bite into a crisp apple or juicy grapes. Your tired body will savor these appeals to the taste buds and renewed energy for completing the tasks that lie ahead.

4. Take in nature. Sit on the front porch, back deck, or a comfortable chair by the window and admire the outdoor view. Even in the middle of the city, you may be able to spot a few trees, a potted plant, or the blue sky overhead. Snowflakes lashing the window or the gentle patter of rain can ease your strain and help you remember the ever-renewable cycle of life.

5. Get moving. Believe it or not, a thirty-minute exercise routine can be just the thing to get you going again. Movement pumps blood sugar into your arteries, infusing you with renewed energy and strength. Take a hearty walk, a quick swim at the spa, or a relaxing jog before dinner. Play basketball with the kids or tennis with your spouse. Enjoy the feel of air on your face and swing in your step as you strengthen unused muscles and bones.

6. Have a chat. Write in your personal journal, recording the day's highs or lows to get them off your chest. Call a friend on the phone for a fifteen-minute conversation to catch up with each other's lives. Email your distant parent and busy siblings to let them know you're thinking of them. Getting in touch with others in a meaningful way is a great stress-buster.

Take control of stress before it takes control of you. Try these ideas to savor life just when joy may seem most elusive.