♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦
Topic #81
What’s your go-to relaxation?
Welcome back to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop! If you’re new to the series, the authors included are grateful for your reads and appreciate, even more so, when you share our writings with your friends. If you’re new to the series, welcome aboard. The authors engage and impress weekly. Be prepared to become a regular reader.
Relaxation is an important part of writing, and one that most authors take for granted. When we think of work, we don’t include the downtime necessary to process the clutter that has built up in our brain. From research to reading, even our day to day task, our brain needs time to channel and file all the stimuli. Taking the time to relax is very much a part of how that is done. So, now, I’m sure you’re wondering if you’re doing it right. If it’s not making you stressed out, then you’re doing it right! But, we can all use tips on new ways to relax. The last thing you want is to get bored with your routine, because that can actually make us feel stressed. In the least it makes our tactics less effective. Difference is the spice of life, wasn’t coined for no reason.
The others on the hop are all going to be talking about the things they do to relax, so you’re going to get plenty of tips and probably some reinforcement, too. Be sure to go to each article, because we all come from different backgrounds, write in different genres, and have different insights on the world. It’s worth the time!
Be kind to yourself, is one of the best pieces of advice a friend has ever given me. It came from a former coworker, and has stuck with me since her saying it. I’ve passed it along to others many times. Hopefully, those words have had a beneficial impact on the others receiving them, like they did for me. I’m passing them on to you, now.
What do they mean? For me, they meant not beating yourself up for what you see in the mirror, someone says to you that they shouldn’t have, or eating that donut, not even for getting another rejection letter. They also mean, remembering to take time to unwind.
My go-to relaxation is spending time at home with my dog. First and foremost, Sadie Sue Shagbottom gives me endless joy. Yes, there are a ton of responsibilities to go with owning a dog, but when the work is done, her affection and willingness to take long walks are a real salve for stress. Doctors will tell you, walking and other exercise are imperative for stress management.
When I’m not walking the dog, the work is put away for the day, and all the chores are done, an opportune time to relax has arrived. Netflix and chill? You bet! I’ll either curl up in bed or on the couch with Miss Sadie and find something to watch. The groovy part about that is, in a way, I’m still working. Part of how I write and do research is through film. It’s always been my medium of choice. So, you can imagine, this isn’t as an effective means of relaxation as I could undertake, because my brain is going on all engines. Still, my body is able to relax and my mind 
isn’t receiving any negative input. Plus, the added presence of my dog, petting her and snuggling up, has been proven to lower blood pressure and improve our bodies healing against stress (google that for the studies).
Laughing, eating, drinking and friends. When you have a great circle of friends around you, it’s is a health benefit to each other. So hang on tight! Going out for food and drinks, having a great laugh, or just hanging out eases the symptoms of a hard day. Laughing, is probably the most important among those. There’s studies for that, too. That glass of wine, nutrition, all have studies to support their benefits for stress fighting. That doesn’t mean over indulge, because then you’d have added a stress (weight gain) that can really take a lot out of you.
That piece of chocolate and coffee, by the way, totally a good idea. Go treat yourself. Give your reflection a compliment. Tell that person who gave you the back-handed compliment that they’re being inappropriate (that last one might be a little stressful in the moment, but in the long run you’ll relieve yourself from having further issues). You owe yourself the love and care.
Now, go on over and check out what the other authors do to relax. You’re gonna get some great tips!
An InLinkz Link-up