bythemethod.com blog

Bodies under constant stress can forget how to relax. We all need to remind ourselves and our bodies what being relaxed feels like.

Relax for just five minutes

This time I want you to relax for 5 minutes. You could do it every day but I am only asking for once in a week. This is not an ideal and relaxing for 5 minutes in a week is unlikely to reduce your stress significantly but it will get you thinking about how to relax and hopefully will make it seem like something you would like to do.

So first pick a time and date when you are going to do this (and make sure you do it) and write it in your diary/calender. This is a date with yourself – the most important kind of date there is – so don’t let anything else spoil it.

Now when it is that time you need a quiet place and a comfortable chair (or even a soft floor if its possible – use a cushion for comfort if necessary).

Now all I want you to do is to sit/lie and then do the following:

Step 1. Listen.
For the first minute you just sit and listen to the noises around you. Then bring your attention into the room you are in, shut your eyes (if you haven’t already done so).

Now over the next three minutes:

Step 2: relax

1. Shut your eyes and relax as best you can.
2. Think about your head and feel any tension that is there and then say to your head – relax. Feel the tension release.
Now do this for your back, then your shoulders, then your chest, then your arms, then your stomach, then your buttocks, then your upper legs, then lower legs and last feet.

Step 3: Just sit.

For the last one minute I want you to just to sit and relax.

I hope you enjoy the experience.