The holidays are fast approaching and people are in a rush to get everything ready. Mum and Dad are attending all the school end of year events, the city guys and girls are in a rush to get that summer body and businesses are working hard to get everything done before the world slows down in late July and August.
There is a certain beauty about this time of year and for me I see it as the end of the year. It is a great time to embrace work slowing down, reflect on what we have achieved so far and make one or two plans for where we would like to be by the end of the calendar year. It is a well deserved pit stop.
One of the most powerful aspects of this holiday period is its ability to help us recharge. Even though some of my clients that do not eat so well and drink more alcohol than perhaps they know best, many lose weight. This baffles them, and the reason for this may surprise you. Quiet time can actually help you lose weight! When your mind is taken away from work, bills, societal expectations and stress the wonderful things happen.
I would like to give you just a couple of tips on how to use your quiet time for the best effect.
Spend 30 minutes in the morning by yourself
If you have the opportunity to get up a little bit earlier than your partner/ kids, try spending 30 minutes on your own by the pool or at the breakfast table and do something that relaxes you. For many, it may be reading a book (fictional best) that you find calming. Alternatively you could just sit in silence and listen to the noises around you, allowing yourself to blend into your environment and take it all in.
Go for a walk
This is probably best done in the morning before everyone gets up (just so you are not too anti social), but going for a walk can be easiest and best type of meditation for people. This is even better when out in nature. Avoid listening to music or anything that will distract you from being present and taking in all your surroundings.
Go to bed a bit earlier
Some evenings going to bed a little bit earlier before everyone else can give you a little bit of you time. You may have a bath or curl up and read a book and just nod off. Whilst everyone else is up until late you can recharge and will also have the benefit of being up earlier than the others in the morning. I would only do this for a couple of nights mind you, as who goes on holiday to go to bed earlier and be anti social?
Practice breathing
Breathing has been proven to be a very powerful form of mediation with great restorative powers. However many of our optimal breathing patterns have been altered to the point we have forgotten how.
Try breathing in through your nose, allow the air to fill your belly so it expands. Do this for 2/3's of your breath and allow the last 1/3 to fill out the chest. This allows your diaphragm to expand properly and activates the parasympathetic nervous system which is responsible for digestive and restorative functions in the body. This is best done lying down on your back or standing in good posture. Try 10-12 slow breaths to start.
I hope you find at least one of these useful and try them out whilst on holiday. You will feel much younger, look fresher and probably lose some weight too.
Yours in Health
Patrick Fallis