Escape to a world of relaxation
An effective way of promoting relaxation and reducing stress, is
to regularly "escape" from the pressures in your life. You may
have more opportunities to escape than you think.
Think of some daily or weekly event that you find unpleasant, an
example may be mowing the lawn, commuting to work, or vacuuming
the house. Situations like these usually don't occupy our mind,
so stressful thoughts of tomorrow's work and the time we are
wasting, can creep into our minds. Instead of allowing these
circumstances to affect us negatively, use them as an
opportunity to take a break and put your stressful day behind
you. For some this may be as easy as listening to a recording
that is either soothing, or allows you to "rock out" and escape.
Some people may like to listen to books or comedy on tape (these
are often available at your local library). Whatever you decide
to use to help you escape, be prepared: have it with you in the
car, for when you get stuck in traffic, go to the library on the
weekend so you have a new book on tape to listen to when you mow
the lawn. When you perform these activities, remove yourself
from the situation and allow yourself totally escape. Recognize
these situations as an opportunity to enjoy yourself and relax.
The Zen Buddhist principle of "mindfulness" is nearly the
opposite of what is described above, but it provides another
effective way of converting negative situations into positive
ones. This technique involves keeping the mind completely
absorbed by the current activity. Focus on your thoughts,
sensations, movements, emotions... Mindfulness takes practice
and concentration, but can bring great rewards. When done
correctly, this practice can remove us from mundane, repetative,
or unpleasant tasks, and transport us to a relaxing,
introspective world.