“You can discover more about a person in a hour of play then in a year of conversation” – Plato

How awesome is the feeling of being relaxed? The feeling of a slow and steady heartbeat, a peaceful mind, a feeling of going with the rhythm of life.

For a lot of my life I found it hard to relax (I sometimes still do), but in recent years I have focused on learning now to relax, what makes me relaxed and how to help myself relax.

How an unrelaxed person might discover being relaxed:

• Listening to your favourite music – escapism of the best kind. Hearing a song that makes you feel incredible is such a good way to relax and let the good times roll
• Having a long hot bath – yes, typical but it works wonders. I like to add a bath bomb, Epsom salts or essential oils and/or candles for that extra touch of relaxation
• Drawing – the worse the better. Without expectations or skill, just going with the flow
• Getting perspective- particularly if I need to relax because I have something on my mind. Talking to someone else I trust will be honest and supportive helps me to relax
• Meditating (even if it’s badly) – guided, freestyle, whichever way you want to go, taking time to centre the mind works wonders
• Holidaying – getting away from it all, getting a fresh perspective and a bit of sun
• Spending time with friends and loved ones- laughing, smiling, sharing and making memories
• Spending time alone – reflecting, forgiving and building a strong relationship with oneself

How do you like to relax?