6 Reasons You Need To Relax This Week

I think you’ll agree with me when I say that finding time to relax can be tough these days. While it’s hard to find the time when you have a long to-do list, relaxation is usually what you need most when you are super busy! Here are 6 excellent reasons you should put relaxation at the top of your to-do list this week.  

1. Rebalance your nervous system

There are two modes for our nervous system; sympathetic – better know as ‘fight or flight mode’ and parasympathetic – our relaxation response.

When we are feeling stressed our body triggers “fight or flight” mode. Our heart rate quickens, we have more adrenaline and our energy is pulled away from our vital organs to our muscles – so we’re ready to spring into action to keep us safe.

Switching to the parasympathetic nervous system reverses our body’s physical reactions to calm us.

It’s normal to switch between both the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems, but we don’t want to spend too much time in either! Many of us are spend too much time in fight or flight mode, so relaxation techniques can help us balance this out.

2. Feel less overwhelmed and anxious

Practicing relaxation techniques can slow down our heart rate, reduce blood pressure and ease tension. When you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed doing a simple relaxation practice can help us feel calmer and clearheaded.

3. Sleep better

 If you are feeling tired, relaxation techniques can help you calm the body and mind. This is proven to help you fall asleep faster and have better quality sleep when your head hits the pillow so you can regenerate your energy levels in no time!

4. Improve your mood

Do you ever find yourself making a mountain out of a molehill? When you are feeling stressed, small things can seem like huge issues. Relaxation helps us to have a calmer and clearer mind that aids positive thinking so you start seeing the brighter side of life.

5. Increase your resilience to stress

Research has shown that practicing meditation and other relaxation techniques can build up resilience in our brains, meaning we are less likely to be negatively affected by stress. Practicing relaxation techniques is even seen to be a preventative measure to other psychiatric disorders.

6. Strengthen your immune system

 When we're stressed, our immune system is less able to fight off antigens. We’re more susceptible to infections - this is why we have a tendency to catch colds or the flu when we are feeling stressed. Through switching your body into its relaxation state you can reverse this and increase your chances of fighting off infection.

Conclusion

 Hopefully this list has inspired you to carve out some time for relaxation this week!