How to Actually Relax {Guest Post}

Here’s the key to relaxing: remembering what it was like when you were a kid.

When you were a kid, you didn’t worry about the past or the future, right? You totally and completely lived in the moment. That’s really the best way to relax.

That’s easier said than done most of the time, of course. We all have busy lives and we have so many things to think about all the time. When we tell ourselves we’re going to stop checking email at a certain time, there we are, checking our work email in bed. Oops. And we can’t stop opening social media as soon as we wake up (often the second we open our eyes in the morning).

So how do you actually relax? Here are some of my favourite ways to rest.

1.) Reading All Day Long

It’s no secret that as we get older, we don’t have as much time to read as we used to. We can’t just spend every single magical summer afternoon lying in our backyard or in a park reading (as amazing as that sounds) and we have busy schedules and lots of responsibilities. But when I really need a break, I take an entire weekend afternoon (or an entire weekend if I’m lucky) and read a good book. I read everything from celebrity memories to women’s fiction to young adult books and I’m really just a sucker for a good story.

Seriously. You need a break? Read a book.

2.) Binge-Watching

All hail the binge watch. I’m really a big fan of this way of watching TV (in case you couldn’t tell from other posts here, I really, really love TV). The thing with binge-watching is it really allows you to get totally immersed in the experience of what you’re watching. You don’t have to switch between different shows and different characters and storylines. You can focus and really chill out. Some of my fave recent binge watches: Stranger Things, Switched At Birth, Teen Mom, and Seinfeld.

3.) Cooking

Cooking is not always super fun or relaxing, but if you make it a point to enjoy the process, you might be surprised at how much you enjoy yourself. I’m a cookbook addict and can’t seem to stop adding new ones to my collection, and of course, I don’t cook recipes from them on a regular basis since that takes a lot of time. But when I want a break, I pick one of my more recent finds and make a recipe or two. It’s amazing how calming this can be and how much better I feel afterward… plus I get to eat the delicious meal, so it’s a win win.

What are some of your favourite ways to relax?