Checklist Archives - Blue Mountain Blog

When’s the last time you did nothing? In other words, when’s the last time you truly and completely relaxed? Summer came in with its usual whoosh of activity, which for many included corralling kids and grandkids to pool parties, picnics, road trips, and summer weddings. Plus, we all dug in deep with lots of lawn and garden care, too. And as the busy start of another school year inches closer, thank goodness a day like National Relaxation Day is here to give us all a well-deserved break.

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Sadly, for some reason, many of us think that we can’t afford to “do nothing,” or we feel guilty about taking it easy. But friends, doing nothing IS doing something – it’s giving yourself the time you need to renew and recharge – in body, mind, and spirit. If you don’t, you’ll drain just like batteries. You can tell yourself you don’t need to take a break, but your body, energy, focus, and outlook will all too soon catch up to you, waving a white flag of surrender. We all need to practice doing this better, so take care of you today and give these 5 ideas a try for slowing down and giving yourself a gift that’s long overdue.

Look up. Yes, this sounds easy and it is. Gazing upward stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers blood pressure and slows the pace of your breath. Count backward from 60 as you gaze at the sky, the stars, the ceiling, and a tree, anything— slow, deliberate counting will also help rid your mind of distractions.

Listen to music. While many styles of music are good for unwinding and relaxing, a band called Marconi Union, along with a group of sound therapists, came up with what they claim to be the most relaxing song ever called “Weightless,” that synchronizes your heart rate and brainwaves by maintaining a constant 60 BPM. As you listen, your heart rate gradually matches the beat, and a fall in heart rate also equals a fall in blood pressure. Give it a try!

Sleep. Yes, sweet sleep. Sleep in late or sleep the whole day long. Stay in your pajamas all day and binge-watch your favorite shows, sleep, read, sip tea, repeat. Ahh, makes you sleepy just reading that, doesn’t it? If you’ve been going non-stop lately with places to go and people to see, your body will love you for just lying still and giving it a much-deserved rest.

Enjoy a massage. Schedule a day at the spa with yourself or a few friends. Can’t make it to the masseuse? Try a hand massage for instant relaxation that can calm a pounding heart. Hands carry a lot of tension, so massages are especially helpful for people who spend lots of time typing on a keyboard, and these days that’s probably a good many of us. Choose your favorite lotion and knead the base of the muscle under the thumb to relieve tension in the shoulders, neck, and scalp. (Neat tip: Dripping cold water on your wrists and behind your earlobes can calm the whole body, as there are major arteries right underneath the skin in those areas.)

Laugh. You’ve heard that laughter is the best medicine, and it’s true! Laughter is one of the best ways to beat stress by increasing blood flow and boosting immunity. So watch a favorite funny movie, get together with your good friends, take in a comedy show, or watch your favorite YouTube videos and keep the laughs going all day.

We hope you take advantage of some of these easy ways to relax today. Invite a friend to try some of these ideas as well, and kick of National Relaxation Day by sharing this thoughtful eCard to wish them peace and relaxation today.

How do you like to relax? Have you tried some of these ideas mentioned today? We can never have enough ways to unwind, so please share your favorites with us!

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If light is in your heart,
You will find your way home.
– Rumi –

With a hint of warmth in the air and the first glimpses of green buds peeking through the dirt, we instinctively want to embrace spring and throw open the windows and begin freshening our homes and tidying up. But before you grab that dust rag, take a second to consider giving your soul the refreshing cleanse it needs first.

After burrowing ourselves indoors during the long winter, spring is ideal for a good self-assessment on how we’re doing physically and emotionally. What built up inside you over those winter months and what stayed with you that needs to go? It’s time to clear the clutter out of our heads and hearts to make room for the light to shine in.

To help you begin, here are 5 ways to spring-clean your beautiful soul:

Throw out mental and emotional clutter.
I am letting go of…This is the mantra to repeat to yourself daily. Have you doubted yourself too much in the past year? Or held onto anger you feel towards someone or something? Maybe you’ve let the hurt in your heart steal your joy for too long. It’s time to free yourself from the hold these feelings have over you. You don’t need them anymore, and soon you’ll feel lighter physically and emotionally.

Wipe away frustrations.
Annoyed by a long checkout line? Rude customer service person on the phone? Don’t let your spirit be muddied by these irritations. Tell yourself to ‘rise above’ and make a conscious decision to not get pulled into the negative vortex. Take a calm breath and give yourself a few seconds to “wipe away” that frustrated feeling so your energy can be focused on more positive and fulfilling things that really matter to you.

Air out your dreams.
Spring is all about renewal and rebirth. If ever there was a time to resurrect your wishes and passions for the things you’d like to try (or try again), or places you’d always dreamt about seeing, now’s the time to breathe new life into them. Nothing is too big or too small—maybe it’s a hobby like painting or learning how to play an instrument, maybe you’ve always wanted to adopt a pet, or perhaps you’ll decide this is the year to get another stamp in that passport—or to GET a passport. Give yourself permission to play and embrace the excitement of stretching your wings.

Polish your relationships.
Winter often makes us hibernate inside our homes and inside ourselves. We maybe don’t get together as often with friends or family members due to shorter days and frosty weather, and the next thing you know the weeks pile up like snow and we find that we haven’t talked to some of our favorite people for way too long. Now is the perfect time to bring out the shine in your heart and theirs by reconnecting with the people who matter most to you. Make that long overdue phone call, write the thoughtful note, and see how your simple kindnesses will make your relationships bloom.

Give yourself grace.
There’s a wonderful quote that says, “God doesn’t use a microwave, He uses a crockpot.” Your spirit is the same way — nurture it, have patience, and let it flourish in the time it needs. And soon, just like the bird every spring, you’ll hear its sweet song.

For a handy reminder and daily dose of inspiration, enjoy this free printable checklist while you embrace spring! Click here to download and print.