Your Brain Needs a Breather — Take a Break !
Most people I know are aware of the benefits of good mental health; And that’s a good thing because it makes us nurture our mental health the way we do our physical health.
All the same when it comes to juggling the demands of day to day living, caring for our mental health falls by the wayside. So yes, awareness is good, but it takes conscious effort and motivation to move from awareness to substantial change in behaviour, which is what then leads to good mental health.
Good Mental Health isn’t just the absence of mental illness. It determines how you cope with day to day stressors, relate to others, make choices. In short its about Feeling Good and Doing Well.
No doubt the quintessence of positive mental health is all about tweaking your lifestyle so as to achieve mental fitness but the benefits of taking a complete break to quieten your inner chaos is unmatched.
Not all of us can hop onto a plane and take off to an exotic holiday spot but I’ve figured that I could be right here in my home and feel the endorphin rush, and that’s what I’m excited to be sharing with you — A stay at home vacation !
· Firstly decide on the days you plan to take a break, Weird as it may sound — you need to schedule relaxation. Mark them on your calendar. Attend to all the pending work that needs to be done before you head off so you don’t need to spend your holiday dreading the work that’s waiting for you when you return. Along with freeing your mind it will make you feel good about taking a break.
· Unplug all your devices and switch off your alarms — There can’t be a vacation if you have your phone ‘pinging’ all the time or the alarm pulling you out of bed. So turn off your wi-fi. Be with yourself and your surroundings. Allow your body to rest and reset by itself.
· Treat Yourself. I took this time to treat myself to a relaxed lunch at my favourite restaurant. Afternoons are now left for you to do what you want. I enjoyed pampering myself at the spa, Rejuvenating facials, Relaxed Massages and movies with a bucket of caramel popcorn. You deserve it all
· Pull out a diary. Write down all the things you are grateful for, the people who have touched your life in so many ways, the dreams and the plans you have for yourself. The written word has a great deal of power and just writing these things can churn within you a cauldron of positive emotions.
· Explore your city. As much as I love travelling to other cities, I’ve discovered how little I know about my own city. There are so many places in our city which we haven’t been to. Visiting neighbourhoods I haven’t been to, Walking around museums and art galleries and Capturing the many moods of the city on my camera, allowed me to soak in the beauty that surrounds me . What was particularly enjoyable was sitting in a local park, having lunch and watching the world go by!
· Do something new. Calligraphy is one of the many things I’ve always wanted to learn. With a brand new set of pens and loads of energy and excitement I spent time engaging in this new experience. Pottery , Learning Spanish …The possibilities are endless when it comes to doing what you’ve always wanted to do.
· Enjoy your hobbies. In a world where you always feel pressed for time, pursuing hobbies get left on the back burner. Spending time doing things you enjoy doing not only captivates you but also makes time stand still. I spent an evening sketching, which took me back to the days where i spent hours drawing and colouring. The joy i felt was what experts refer to as ‘Being in the flow’ — Being completely engaged in what you are doing.
· Catch up with friends. ‘Cya soon’ ; ‘’We should catch up some time soon……all familiar phrases I text while chatting with my friends. This break gave me just that opportunity- There was so much to share. Long excited conversations — Exaggerated versions of things that’s made us laugh, cry, complain or drove us crazy, made me feel connected. I love the fact that friends are always our support team. The smile, the hand clasp, the embrace …all affirmations of the fact that I am so privileged to have met such wonderful people in my life.
People seem surprised when you tell them you are on a vacation- After all vacation seems to imply that one should be out of their familiar surroundings. But whether you are in Bali or in your bedroom, taking a break , spending time with yourself will restock your energy drums and infuse in you, a renewed zest for life.
Go ahead and give yourself the consent to douse yourself with some TLC; and just so that I am better at my job, more ‘present’ in my relationships and more enthusiastic about life, I’ve decided to give myself this downtime, prioritising rest, fun and quiet contemplation, as often as possible.
