Relax? Who has time for that?

Our fast paced modern world quietly and slowly takes a toll on our health. It is like being beaten to death with a wet noodle; it certainly isn’t comfortable, you can ignore it, but eventually it will cause problems. Chronic stress can suppress your immune system, cause chronic headaches, and increase your risk of heart disease. Stress related problems are common in most medical clinics. Even with problems that are not directly related to stress like migraines, reducing stress can have a dramatic effect. According to congressional testimony between 60 and 70 percent of doctor visits are related to stress! We need to relax! But most of us are already stretched to the limit; how are we supposed to find time to relax?

One of the most powerful things we can do is exercise. Going on a daily jog or taking some time to go to the gym can make a huge difference in your life. Not only does it give you a chance to relax; it actually makes you more resistant to the effects of stress. This doesn’t have to be an hour workout at the gym; try a 15 minute jog after work or go for a walk. Even a little bit of exercise helps. Exercises such as yoga, tai chi, or qi gong are great techniques to build stamina and relax the mind. Studies on tai chi have proven that it can improve your mental outlook and decrease blood pressure.

You are probably thinking: this all sounds great but how do I make the time to do these things? There are many ways to work these methods in to your day. For instance, why not go for a walk during your lunch hour; you could walk to a nearby restaurant for lunch. You can take your lunch to work and spend the last 20 minutes doing tai chi or meditating. But what if you really don’t have time to do any of this?

Don’t worry; there are many opportunities during the day to practice quick and simple relaxation techniques. One technique I like is to take short opportunities of two to five minutes to relax. Close your eyes, relax your muscles, and focus on breathing deeply. When a thought comes to you, acknowledge it and let it go. I use this technique quite often in my practice and people love it. You can do this first thing in the morning before you get out of bed, or while the coffee is brewing. Try it a few times during the work day or when the kids are napping. People find this technique to be particularly useful because it is so easy to work into a busy day. Evening TV watching is a great time to exercise. Try doing some pushups or sit-ups during commercial breaks or run up and down the stairs for two minutes. By using these breaks in your day to relax and exercise, you can easily improve your health.

These are just a few of the many techniques that can be helpful. Pick one and run with it. It is hard to fit relaxation into our lives. I am constantly struggling to keep time to exercise and relax in my schedule. I have a busy practice and a growing family but I have to remind myself that I am doing this for my family and patients as much as for myself. Make your health and well being a priority; make time to relax and you will be happy you did.