National Relaxation Day
August 15 is National Relaxation Day. It is not just a day to sit back and do nothing, but a day to do the things that leave you rested and relaxed. Whether it is drinking a nice herbal tea and having a bubble bath, or whether you prefer to book yourself a day at the spa, just make sure that you do not do any work on this day, or anything that can make you stressed. This is the perfect day to leave your worries behind!
It is important to relax and take breaks frequently as it improves our mental health, makes us happier, and helps us sleep better and feel rested. This in turn helps to increase our productivity.
National Relaxation Day History
National Relaxation Day is the brainchild of Sean Moeller, who came up with the idea for this holiday in 1985. Sean was only nine-years-old when he suggested that a national day be created so that people could relax. Despite his young age, he clearly knew how important it is to rest.
At the time, Sean gave an interview to The Des Moines Register (a daily newspaper in Des Moines, Iowa) stating that people should not work or clean on National Relaxation Day, as those things are not part of relaxation. Sean's grandfather was also the founder of Chase's Calendar of Annual Events, which surely helped National Relaxation Day become a popular unofficial holiday in America.
National Relaxation Day inspired its British counterpart, National Slacker Day, which was founded in 2001.
This holiday has gained popularity in the age of social media, as many brands and organizations use the hashtag #NationalRelaxationDay to talk about the importance of relaxing.
The Best Ways to Relax on National Relaxation Day
- Take some time away from the screens: While social media and the internet have many benefits in this modern age, you can also quickly feel overwhelmed and stressed by constantly being bombarded with news and posts about other people's lives. Put your phone or computer away, and do something that relaxes you, such as reading, painting, or cooking. Make sure to especially avoid any screen time before bed, as it can mess with your sleep patterns.
- Try meditating: Many people swear by the power of meditation in helping decrease stress and improve our well-being. The best thing about meditation is that you can do it anywhere! A good place to start is by downloading one of the many apps that guide beginners through the practice of meditation.
- Do something you love such as listening to music or reading: Both have been proven to help with relaxation, as they offer an escape from stress and everyday life. Studies have shown that classical music slows the heart rate and lowers blood pressure.
- Treat yourself to a spa day: What better way to relax than by having a massage, or sitting in a nice sauna? You can go one step further and book yourself into some beauty treatments, such as a haircut, a facial, or a manicure.
- Green Tea is a must: Green Tea is an excellent remedy to lower your stress. It contains L-Theanine which helps to reduce stress and improve your mood and sleep.
- Stare and Do Nothing: Sometimes, you can enjoy and relax by simply sitting near your window and staring outside at the trees, people, parks, and just nature. While staring at your phone screens all day have a negative impact, looking outside at nature helps to make you calmer and more relaxed.
- Talk to your friends: Most people find it quite difficult to keep in touch with their friends, family, and close ones due to their hectic lifestyles. On National Relaxation Day, make sure to have a heart-to-heart conversation with your close people. Venting to people is also an effective way to relax.
Advantages of relaxing
- Relaxing helps to lower your blood pressure. When you are stressed, your body releases many hormones which contract your blood vessels and increases the heart rate. This in turn increases your blood pressure.
- Relaxing helps to slow and make your breathing stable. People under stress tend to breathe rapidly which disturbs the balance of gases in your body.
- The most obvious benefit of relaxing is it helps to reduce anger or other undesirable emotions and helps in muscle relaxation.
- It has also been said that people who are usually more relaxed tend to have a lower chance of stroke.
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