I’m in desperate need of time to myself! But when I do find a quiet moment to myself I often forget what I want to do. So I made a quick list of a few activities I enjoy doing that promote relaxation. Doing something with your hands, body or mind (instead of sleeping or wandering around the house picking up) help me to relax for a few minutes and ultimately be a better mom. Here are five activities on my list that can do exactly this:
Piano
I’m no musician but I enjoy plunking out a few songs to help me focus and relax. Whether you play “Hot Cross Buns” with three fingers on the black keys or recall a piece you learned as a child, when you play the piano it’s easy to forget the world and simply focus on the music you are creating. And, you don’t have to be a professional to experience this. In fact, when you concentrate on the instrument, there just isn’t room for other thoughts which means that you have a quiet mind and can truly relax! Pick your favorite instrument whether it’s the piano, guitar or harmonica, and get playing!
Meditation
All of my achievements in life were because of a meditation practice that allowed me to relax, focus and succeed. This ancient art is in my experience the key to accomplishing anything and everything! Simply about clearing your mind, meditation has incredible benefits but isn’t easy to master. It’s a practice in which you teach yourself to be comfortable with absence of thought. This will take time and patience because our minds are constantly running, but once you get the knack of it, relaxed vibes will be yours whenever you wish to access them! I practice meditation when doing daily tasks like folding laundry, loading the dishwasher, washing the car, anything, everywhere! These are stolen moments to myself.
Sewing
Making something with your bare hands is highly therapeutic and requires some quiet time. Sewing is also a way to make personal gifts and other things you need at home! Take a look at janome sewing machines and check out some of the incredible features today’s machines have. I sew on my Grandmother’s old clunker which does the job but I dream of one day getting a fancy, new machine that will allow me to finish in good time with professional results and touches.
Coloring Books
No longer for children and bored teenagers in airport lounges, coloring books have made a huge comeback over the last couple of years. Nowadays, you can’t enter a bookshop without spotting the ‘adult coloring book’ section. Whether this is a phase or not doesn’t matter; what matters is that coloring really does help you relax. Who knows maybe finger painting for adults will be the next trend…it’s fun and relexing to do the things we enjoyed in childhood.
Reading
Pour yourself a cup of tea, cut some cake and grab a blanket. It’s time to turn off your TV, turn off your Netflix subscription and get back to basics; reading. No, not on your Kindle! That’s cheating. Pick up a real book, be that hardback or softback. Lose yourself in the story of another person’s life and allow yourself to imagine a different life for your own. Not only will it help you relax, but it might also give you a new perspective or fresh attitude towards issue or challenges in your own life.
