Spring is finally here and like many, I find myself crawling out of hibernation, bleary eyed and overdue a holiday. And as I emerge, almost a year since the novelty of WFH began, I find myself asking, ‘What have I learned?’

That relaxing is hard. 

Seriously. How ridiculous does that sound? It’s hard to do nothing? Hard to chill out, put your feet up, switch off?

But it’s true. We’ve become a nation that’s plugged in, switched on, connected all the time. Constantly engaged in something or some screen. And I, for one, am starting to feel the effects. Anxiety on the rise, broken sleep. But it’s not just me, according to mental health charity Mind, “more than half of adults have said their mental health got worse during lockdown”. Yet I’m excited and inspired by the work that I’m doing, so I tell myself that it’s okay to work another hour here, another day there. Because it’s making me happy, right? 

There’s a lot of noise out there on the subject of productivity and what that should look like throughout our working week. And with the hustle culture dominating the #femaleboss narrative and celebrations of busyness in every direction, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that working more, is working better. Being better, doing better. 

But if I enjoy what I do and it brings joy to my day, then surely, it’s okay to work more at it? To put in the extra hours? To write this article on a bank holiday? (The irony here doesn't escape me.) Is it really so important to switch off from time to time? 

In short, yes. It is.

You see, I’m new to the freelancer life. It came from necessity, really, after a covid redundancy and ever looming rent to pay, I took the plunge to freelancing while I no longer had a job to lose. But that meant all of a sudden, a huge weighted vest packed with pressure was thrust upon my shoulders. I thrust it there myself, I know that, but the matter is still true.

I was suddenly solely responsible for generating my own income in a way I’d not truly experienced before, and things started to slip. The freedom of working for myself meant setting my own working hours. A dreamy privilege in theory, but in action, means dedication and commitment to setting some serious boundaries. 

This means I now have to commit to relaxation time, it’s no longer a given after the commute home, because there isn’t a commute to signal the end of the day. The working day and chill time all roll into one. If I’m not at my desk working, I’m scrolling the ‘gram or listening to business podcasts or thinking about fitting in a workout while actually adding more to my to do list.

It has to stop. It’s not sustainable and the effects are showing up left right and centre. Wellbeing People say that “when we relax, the flow of blood increases around our body giving us more energy. It helps us to have a calmer and clearer mind which aids positive thinking, concentration, memory and decision making.”

Relaxation will make us better, happier and more productive in the long run. So, I’ve been researching some easy ways to help us switch off, when we find it practically impossible...

1.Spend Time Outdoors

Going for a brisk walk around the block - or even better, in a park or somewhere with lots of nature - is one of the easiest ways to reduce the overwhelm and help us relax. A study from Environmental Science & Technology found that just 5 minutes of “activity in natural areas resulted in improvements in self-esteem and mood,” because there’s an “intuitive link between nature and well-being.” We’re not built to be indoors all the time, and we can all find 5 minutes, right?

2. Take A Bath

Not ground-breaking, but a hot bubble bath works wonders for me when I’m feeling anxious or overwhelmed. And not just because I fill it with yummy smelly things from LUSH, there’s actual science behind it. Pentucket Medical says that baths can reduce feelings of stress and anxiety by calming the nervous system, and they can reduce inflammation on the joints (no doubt caused by hunching over the desk). Just try not to do what I do and end up doom scrolling for an hour in the tub.

3. Breathe In, Breathe Out

Sounds simple, but evidence proves the power of breathing goes way beyond keeping you alive. Breathing exercises and conscious breathwork are simple and effective ways to find a moment of calm. And if you’re like me and find yourself lacking the time (or feeling like you can’t grant yourself the time) a quick moment to take some deep breaths every half an hour could be just enough to relax you until you’re ready to grab the bubble bath…The University of Michigan has some great breathing exercises to try.

4. Trick Your Brain

Right, I’m yet to try this, but consultant counselling psychologist Dr Ritika Suk Birah told Stylist that creating a brain trigger is a smart move. This basically means doing a small action to change your mental state and “signal to your brain that it’s going to be doing something different now”. Something like standing up and doing, she suggests, 5 jumping jacks after finishing work, so that you know that work has ended and it’s time for something else. I’m not sure I’ll be jumping jack-ing, but perhaps a cheeky hula hoop could work?

Relaxation is vital for our mental health and physical health, so let’s try, even just once a day, to schedule in some wind-down time. We can do it together… Deal?

Because relaxation shouldn’t be a luxury, a taboo or a guilt trip. We deserve to take a break, and breathe.

If you don’t know who this fabulous author is, Vicki is a freelance marketer for planet-friendly businesses, and the founder of lifestyle website Hey Mama Earth, that explores the theme of connection to self, others and earth.

Do you give yourself proper time to relax? What’s your go to activity when you just need some time out from the stress of life? Let us know in the comments below.

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