In a society that has lost its ability to do nothing, it’s extra important to make relaxing
mainstream again.
It feels as though I have been in a constant cycle of anticipating Summer during
the rest of the year for as long as I can remember. I constantly craved the warm weather,
sunshine, and freedom that the season was linked to. Now that I am further through
my adolescence and in turn, life feels progressively more difficult, Summer seems to
have lost its appeal. This used to be my time of freedom and relaxation, whereas now, I
feel as though I need to speed up. It feels in today's society we have a lack of ability to
slow down, relax, and just breathe. How far can we push ourselves? And the more
important question, where does it end? How long are we able to push ourselves past
extremes suffering the consequences of not giving our bodies and minds the time they
deserve?
This Summer I am making a change. I have made it a personal goal to learn how
to relax. I have come to realize that I fully deserve to spend downtime with myself and
for myself. I have come to realize that doing things that fulfill and nurture yourself
needs to be a priority. This is so important because when my bucket is full and I have
creative energy, I can do more than I even thought possible. Some of my personal
favorite ways of relaxing are doing certain things for myself that solely bring me joy. I
love to read, and making an effort to set aside time to simply get lost in a light romance
novel or historical fiction story brings me so much joy. I also love being outside. Doing
nothing except laying by the pool in the warm sunshine can completely replenish my
energy.
Taking the time to find activities that fill your soul is so important, especially in
the fast-paced, crazy world that we live in. Putting yourself first mentally, physically,
and spiritually is one of the best gifts that you can give yourself, and learning how to slow down and relax accomplishes just that.