7 Ways to Relax and Recharge at Zero-cost

Here's one of the articles I wrote for the Wellness Section of Philippine Online Chronicles.  I wrote it a few months back.  I saw it again today and decided that I'd share it here in my blog since it's very relevant to many moms who are usually busy and tired.

 

 

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Stress is an inevitable part of our lives. Even positive events or changes in our lives can be a source of stress. But stress is not bad all the time. Sometimes, a good amount of stress is what we need to motivate us to do something better or to do an excellent job. Being subjected to excessive stress repeatedly over a long period of time however is harmful to our health.

 

 

Over the years, studies show evidence that more and more diseases are stress-related. According to a feature article at WebMD, these are some of the health problems related to stress: heart disease, asthma, obesity, diabetes, headaches, depression and anxiety, gastrointestinal problems, Alzheimer’s disease, accelerated aging, and premature death.

 

You can read more on the article here. This is not surprising especially with our fast-paced modern world where so many things are changing and happening fast; the work environment is becoming increasingly demanding, and the prices of commodities are soaring. Thus, it is imperative that we take time out from our busy lives and relieve ourselves from our stressors.

 

 

Some of you might ask: How can I relax and recharge when the cost of R&R these days is so expensive? Thinking of the cost for a vacation can cause more stress.

 

 

I’m sure that relaxing and recharging is far from the minds of parents who have just enrolled their child/children in school.

Don’t fret. Here are some reminders on how you can relax and recharge yourself without spending a cent.

 

 

• Quality sleep. Take time to rest your tired body and mind. When our bodies and minds are overworked, we cannot function properly. Our minds are not as sharp when they are well rested. Our bodies and senses will be more alert when we have enough sleep. So, try to have power naps between 15 to 30 minutes each day and make sure you have a good night’s sleep around 7-8 hours daily.

• Enjoy the beauty of God’s creations. Take time to literally smell the flowers – in your garden or at a nearby park. Watch the sunset. Go stargazing one evening. Listen to the sound of rain. Or you can look at nice pictures of beautiful places around the country or the globe. You can also go people watching! Look at a baby or children playing. Look at an elderly couple holding hands, eating together or praying together. The truth is, there is always something beautiful we can look at if we just take time to pause and look around. You can actually begin by looking at the mirror.

 

 

Click here to continue reading the article.