We live in a society where we’re taught that we constantly need to be doing something to be better- working harder to get a better job to make more money is glorified at every turn. People spend so much time focusing on being more to get more, it’s often forgotten that another crucial part of being a fulfilled, well-rounded, and happy human being is by taking care of ourselves in one of the most purest forms: relaxation.
Self-care for relaxation isn’t lazy, it’s a necessity.
The narrative is often that taking care of ourselves by relaxing is ‘lazy’, when in reality it’s crucial in attaining those goals that are not perceived as lazy by society, like working or studying.
It’s all about balance– ‘work hard, play hard’, right?
As important as it is to value hard work, an equal amount of value should be put into relaxing self-care, to de-stress from all that effort that’s being put into everything else. Otherwise, you’ll likely find yourself burnt out and unable to do as good of a job as if you had taken the time to sit back and relax. So don’t be ashamed and cut yourself a break, damn it!
That being said, sometimes it can be hard to think of ways to self-care- especially if you’re in the throws of being afraid that you’ll end up a lazy failure if you choose to take even a couple minutes to yourself. Let’s go through a few ways you can take care of yourself by relaxing and unwinding, with a focus on things that are not only easy to achieve and quickly gratifying but maybe you didn’t think to consider before.
1. Participate in a hobby that you not only enjoy, but that facilitates immediate relaxation.
There may be a lot of hobbies that we enjoy having but don’t necessarily bring us a sense of immediate relaxation. Take working out for example. While working out is a kind of self-care, right now we’re focusing on the kind of hobby that bring us the most relaxation, right away. Just like many other forms of self-care, this depends on you and your interests.
Example: As someone who enjoys an occasional video game, one of the best examples that I can come up with for this self-care method is by playing a video game called Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Most have heard of it but for those who haven’t, it’s a video game in which you play a knight and you have to defeat these monsters and save a princess. That may sound like the furthest thing from a ‘relaxing self-care activity’, but the game isn’t hard and it is beautiful. The calming instrumental game play music and the stunning graphics that make up sweeping open fields where you can see and hear the wind rushing through the grass and trees- make this game extremely relaxing to play.
The point is, in order to provide yourself self-care AND immediate relaxation, choose to participate in a hobby that will give you just that. Some examples: knitting, reading, listening to music, watching a movie.
2. Eat something healthy- that you actually think tastes good.
One may argue that eating healthy all the time is considered self-care- just as one may argue that eating a big cheeseburger every once in a while is also self-care. Neither are wrong, but we’re keeping it simple here- the goal is immediate gratification to obtain ample relaxation.
The truth is that super healthy foods, while good for us, don’t always taste that great- or, your know, not as good as a cheeseburger might. The key is to find a food that’s considered ‘middle-ground’.
Example: My middle ground, feel good food would be chocolate covered strawberries. They’re easy to make or buy, they taste amazing so they’re comforting, but they still hold a decent amount of nutritional value which makes me feel healthy- which also feels good!
3. Take a nap.
Naps are the ultimate sign of laziness- or so ‘they’ say. I, personally, am a huge fan of a good nap. The fact is that sometimes after a long day of work or school, all you feel like doing is curling up on the couch and taking a rest. So why don’t you? The chances are that, assuming you are not napping for more than half an hour, the world will keep turning and a little rest isn’t going to hurt you or your workload or anyone else.
P.S. This does not apply to napping for more than half an hour. In this case there is chance that you may feel groggy upon waking, fuck up your sleep schedule, and possibly fall behind in your work… so set an alarm! (I’m looking at you, four hours nappers.)
4. Take a little ‘me’ time in the bedroom (or anywhere you want, provided it’s legal!)
It’s no secret that awarding yourself with some private time does wonders for your sanity by:
- Elevating your mood
- Decreasing stress
- Acting as a natural pain-killer
- Increasing your self-esteem
- Helping you sleep better
- Doing countless other great things
As you can see, the benefits are endless. Also, it’s perfectly natural- there’s no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed. So feel free to do it as needed!
5. Do something nice for someone else.
As counter-intuitive as this may seem, doing something nice for someone else can bring us a lot of piece of mind. The main goal at hand should be doing something for the benefit of someone other than ourselves, but it’s likely that you will also end up feeling good about it in the end- and that’s okay!
Focusing on the relaxation aspect, the key is- again- to keep it simple. No need to drive an hour into the city and volunteer for four hours serving the homeless (although if you want to do that, go right ahead!).
Example: It can be as simple as donating online to a charity you support, or shooting your friend or family member a text message just to tell them that you love them.