1. http://fitzvillafuerte.com/20-cheap-ways-to-relax-and-manage-stress.html ... or send an email to polmeddiseaseman@med
YOUR CARE N E W S L E T T E R
December 2016
Destination relaxation ... slip into relaxation mode Those ever-looming deadlines are coming to a close, your colleagues are slowly disappearing from the office and a holiday spirit is in the air. Yet, you are having trouble slamming on the brakes of your engine. We all know the feeling of year-end fatigue; your head is constantly full, you feel listless, grumpy, distracted and out of fuel.
The only way to pull yourself out of the burnout slump is to get into the relaxation mode that your body is yearning for.
Remind your body how to relax.
Breathe better by concentrating on each breath
Breathe easy You know the drill. Count to 10. Breathing doesn’t just keep you alive by allowing you to breathe in oxygen; it is also an important relaxing technique. The trick is to be aware of your breathing. When you are feeling flustered and overworked you tend to take short, quick breaths and this can make you feel more stressed. Breathe better by concentrating on your breathing. Take deep, mindful breaths and close your eyes. The extra oxygen will lower your heart rate, relax your muscles and allow you to de-stress.
Keep your nose in a book Often the best way to relax in your own reality is to get lost in another. Visit the library or go to a bookshop and get that book you’ve always wanted to curl up with, but haven’t had the time for. Choose a quiet place and grab a few hours of uninterrupted reading time. It will help to settle your thoughts and bring on some much-needed relaxation. If reading isn’t your cup of tea, watch a movie or colour in an adult colouring book.
Go on an adventure You don’t have to trek across the world and climb Everest, but a new scene will work wonders for you. You don’t even have to leave the country or city, for that matter. Simply take a road trip to the next little town or suburb, or out to a farm area. This will help to put work fully out of your mind during the holiday season.
Spoil yourself One of the best ways to relax is to pamper yourself. And you can do it at home, at very little cost. Take a long bubble bath, wash your hair lavishly and moisturise thoroughly. Make homemade facial masks and soak your feet. During the hustle and bustle of the year, it’s difficult to even fit in a long shower, let alone, a bath. Use your time off to give your body proper attention and care.
Work it If the gym isn’t your happy place then you can have your exercise and relax too, by walking every day. Just 20 to 30 minutes of walking every day will spur on potential weight loss, and help you to relax and feel good. Getting your heart rate up while walking boosts your endorphin levels, which will help you to feel good and relax.
Detox from your digitals It’s perfectly fine to want to post your holiday snaps on social media, but excessively using your phone for communication and keeping your devices at hand is a no-no. While at work you are used to your phone and computer, so if you don’t switch off your devices, you won’t be able to turn off work mode either. Talk to friends and family face-to-face instead, and leave those emails till you’re back at your desk.
References: 1. http://fitzvillafuerte.com/20-cheap-ways-to-relax-and-manage-stress.html 2. http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/6-cheap-and-easy-ways-to-relax-at-home/ 3. http://www.thedailymind.com/stress/100-ways-to-relax-unwind-and-loosen-up/
If you have any questions or need more information, please call POLMED on 0860 765 633 (select the option for the Disease Management Programme), or send an email to
[email protected] with your membership number and contact details.
