Day 17 of my top 30 for 30:
This can sometimes be a challenging one for me, since like so many people, I spend a lot of time working. This being said, I love my work and because of my passion for what I do, I find myself spending 10 or sometimes more hours per day working on a variety of projects to bring science and research-based health and nutrition information to people. Very often, I find that the work I do can be relaxing in and of itself since I experience so much satisfaction from what I do!
Nonetheless, taking breaks from even enjoyable activities can be beneficial and necessary. Since I spend a lot of time sitting at my computer, I find exercise and movement to be an essential relaxation activity. I know this may sound a little counter-intuitive, but I see going for a run or lifting weights as a welcome reward for my productivity whether it’s writing an article like this one, answering emails, doing some research, etc. Taking screen breaks at least once per hour allows me to move around, stretch, relax my mind, and come back to my work with a fresh perspective. During these periods of relaxation, I also give myself a “break” from stress I may be feeling around a deadline, or otherwise.
Interestingly enough, sometimes the best ideas I’ve had have come to me while relaxing, such as while I’m out running or walking or just not focusing so intently on a task.
Have you ever noticed this?
I love it when this happens!
It’s these times when I find my mind integrating what I’ve been focusing on recently, which creates space for ideas to emerge and allows for me to feel more grounded and centered.
So, for these and so many other reasons, I find relaxation to be valuable and essential.
You can find the recipe for this salad, dressings, and lots of other delicious raw foods in our free Holiday Raw Food Recipe Guide eBook you can receive when you register for our email list: https://rawfoodeducation.com/?page_id=3322
What do you enjoy doing, or not doing, for relaxation?