The mind should be allowed some relaxation, that it may return to its work all the better for the rest. -- Seneca
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Our society in general has become obsessed with relaxing. From everyday self-care rituals to travelling for days to a deserted island to 'get away' from it all, we place a ton of emphasis on relaxing. On shutting down. On logging off. And for the all the right reasons; relaxation is linked to increased productivity, a stimulus for creativity, and also, physically, we need to slow down and rest in order for our cells to regenerate.
But this emphasis (perhaps an obsession?) with relaxation brings with it some confusion. How do we actually relax? How can we shut off our brains? How can we sit still? Enter a dreamlike state where nothing matters? Some use yoga and meditation to get there, some spend tons of money to get away from it all, and some use medication and stimulants to achieve a state of chill.
Whatever your method, what I have discovered is that relaxation means different things to different people. For a mother of three, perhaps a moment when all the children are napping is relaxation. For someone in a high-energy job, perhaps its afterwork drinks. And for others, like myself, to relax is be disconnected from technology and from 'work', and to be totally at ease. The importance of defining this out for yourself is integral in finding relaxation in seemingly non-relaxing spaces and times.
It took a few years of discovering and defining this 'relaxing' state for myself. And it also takes constant discipline and dedicated to your relaxation. It definitely takes a concerted effort to actually move your mind into that state. It's technically easier to shift your environment to be relaxed (like say, booking a spa day) but a whole different thing to actually turn your mind off from the millions of open tabs.
From a type of music, or a ritualistic face mask, there are different methods that help move your mind to that state. For me, though, I find that a memory thought process works best. I try to actively re-live the moments when I felt the most calm: right after a yoga class, the morning after my wedding, immediately after I wrote my last exam in university. Jogging through those moments helps to relax me almost instantly.
Of course, spending time in an absolutely relaxing environment - like this secluded beachfront villa in Koh Libong, Thailand - definitely helps in getting into the chill mood.
How do you define relaxation? What tips do you have to switch off?
