[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We’ve all experienced a time when we feel we’re swimming against the current, so to speak! We feel emotionally and physically stagnant. Our enthusiasm and patience for our work, friends, and loved ones is seriously challenged! So how do you bounce back and revitalize your mind and body?
For myself, a trip to the gym or enjoying an adult beverage while aggravating my neighbors by playing unreasonably loud (at least in my landlord’s opinion) music usually does the trick. If that doesn’t sound appealing, here are some other suggestions to help you regain your mojo.
Get out in Nature
In the United States, Colorado is consistently rated the “fittest” state by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an honor the people of Colorado have held for more than a decade. Coloradans also always ranks high on the happiness scale. It’s no wonder! When you live surrounded by the Rocky Mountains it’s hard not to find a reason to be active outside. And studies have shown that spending time in nature has numerous benefits including relieving stress, restoring mental energy and even reducing negative thoughts. So get outside and take that hike, hit that ski slope, or just take a walk in the sunshine. It will do your mind and body good!
Attend a Concert
I’m sure since man has walked erect, he has also been trying to re-energize by finding a good band to dance to around the campfire. Which is good news because a new Australian study suggests that going to a live concert can make you happier. The study explores the connection between “habitual music engagement and subjective wellbeing.” I was not surprised that the findings support the notion that “engaging with music by dancing or attending musical events was associated with higher subjective wellbeing than for those who did not engage with music in these forms.” So now I can justify all the money that I continue to spend on concert tickets that I really cannot afford, by saying it maintains my sense of wellbeing! …Maybe just not the morning after the show!
Find an Ashram
Well, you really don’t have to go that far to benefit from the rejuvenating effect of yoga and meditation. All you need is a yoga mat and perhaps a comfy zafu! Perfected in India long before those trendy clubs popped up all over the globe, yoga and meditation are meant to work together to re-energize mind, body and spirit. Studies suggest that practicing yoga and meditation can help manage stress, increase flexibility, improve your mental focus and provide a general feeling of wellbeing. This is a great way to re-center and refocus to feel good while performing the tasks you need to do every day. This is also very important if you need to spend a weekend with your family![/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”1437″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text]Visit a Banya
Feeling frustrated? Sweat it out! A banya is a type of Russia steam bath. This is an old tradition but remains popular today throughout Russia. And why not! For centuries Russians have been retreating to banya’s to relax, rejuvenate and to talk. The convivial atmosphere and enveloping warm steam has a tremendous capacity to reduce stress. To prolong their visit, bathers can take a break from the steam in a room called a predbannik. Here they will find tables to sit at, drink tea and further discuss the issues of the day. Then with a good sharp snap of the towel to someone’s behind, it’s back to the parnaya, the room with the steam! Actually, I’m not sure that last bit is part of the tradition. What is tradition however, is the use of dried or fresh bunches of branches and leaves from white birch, oak or eucalyptus to hit oneself or others in order to improve circulation.
From time to time, everyone needs “chill out” and relax. It’s important for your mental health and overall wellbeing. It’s easy to forget, but if you have a favorite practice our routine to use when you are feeling a bit run-down, you can recover more quickly, be happier and better prepared to take on your day!
More information:
- 11 scientifically proven reasons you should be spending less time in the office, Business Insider, June 2015, http://www.businessinsider.com/why-being-outside-in-nature-is-healthy-2015-6/#improve-your-short-term-memory-1
- If you’re happy and you know it: Music engagement and subjective wellbeing, Psychology of Music, March 2017, http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0305735616659552
- 3 Reasons to Mediate, The Chopra Center, http://www.chopra.com/articles/3-reasons-meditate
- What is a Russian Banya? https://innamazing.wordpress.com/2012/07/09/what-is-a-russian-banya/
[/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=”About the author” border_width=”3″][vc_column_text]Dave is an author, musician and photographer based in Portland, Oregon. He has worked with Fortune 50 companies to build their global brands but now applies his natural curiosity to exploring and documenting the world around him. dave@aiellobuzz.com | www.aiellobuzz.com[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]
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