eNEWSLETTER
December 2009
Our Mission Statement:
"Providing a range of innovative professional services, empowering our clients to positively address issues affecting their lives."
Our office hours are from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. After hours and Saturday appointments are available on request.
RELAXING OVER THE FESTIVE SEASON
What do you find relaxing? Perhaps it is the idea of a good book, fishing, going for a walk, listening to music or watching movies. But when do we get the chance to enjoy things that we find relaxing and soothing. Over the Christmas break, many people will experience stress and perhaps some high level of excitement, depending on the festive activities. For many people, after a break they feel more exhausted, and say they need a holiday from a holiday. The important thing to remember is to take 30 minutes a days and dedicate it totally to relaxing. How often do we find ourselves wanting to relax, for instance watching a movie, but instead of sitting down and enjoying ourselves, we need to feel busy, instead we watch TV and do the ironing at the same time. This is not relaxation; this is an inability to relax. Yes life is busy, but life is what you make it and is one more hour going to make the ironing pile appear less monstrous.
What makes people so stressed over the Christmas break?
The main contributor to increased stress over the festive season is family; Christmas for many people means “family gatherings” which for some is one of the most daunting experiences of the year. This year, instead of focusing on getting everything perfect, just focus on making sure you and your family enjoy yourselves. If you find, the stress is starting to wear you down, here are some ways to help you relax.
Some ways to help you relax:
- Deep breathing - breathe in through the nose and let the air fill the bottom of your lungs first, breathe right down to your stomach, then breathe out slowly, concentrating on letting the muscles of your body relax.
- Focused breathing - breathe in through the nose and as you breathe out say a positive statement to yourself like relax or calm down.
- Stretching - stretch out muscles, reach the arms above the head and stretch, or just stretch whatever part of the body you feel needs it.
- Visualisation - this is where you picture a pleasant place and use slow breathing through the nose - you can make the place anywhere you want to and you can change anything in the picture to see, feel, hear or smell just as you wish.
Quote of the Month
“The time to relax is when you don't have time for it”
Attributed to both Jim Goodwin and Sydney J. Harris