6 Ways You Can Recharge and Relax

It seems as though women are always looking for ways we can relax, recharge and reboot.  All of us seem to wear many hats; work, family, relationships.  And I think that women often get so busy in caring for others or serving that they don’t always take care of themselves.

Which, over time, can definitely be unhealthy!

Here are some things that we enjoy doing when we have a moment to recharge.

From Wren:

An at-home manicure

My current fave: OPI’s Significant Other Color

I never used to do my nails.  But a couple of years ago, I was sidelined by a couple of surgeries.  There wasn’t a lot of active stuff I could do, for a long time.  But one day, I remembered that I did have some beautiful nail polishes.  I thought, eureka!  I painted my nails and I discovered that the entire process was therapeutic, both during and after.  I think it’s just the doing of something that has a beautiful end result.  But the process is wonderful, too.  You have to give a little attention and focus to what you’re doing; but you’re not working calculus problems.  So you paint, and let dry; then paint and let dry.  Add a top coat for protection and you have a week’s worth of pretty nails, just for setting aside a little time on Sunday.  Or Saturday.

And, there are SO many beautiful, and even non-toxic, nail polishes out there today.  Finch and I both love OPI (although she does the gel polishes and I just use the regular).

Here are some of the colors I’m getting ready to enjoy this spring!

Spring polish faves

• OPI’s “Toucan Do It If You Try” (I love a good coral)
• OPI’s “Gargantuan Green Grape”
• Nicole by OPI’s “Teal Me Something New”

Reading a wonderful story

Books really minister to me.  And, while I often have good intentions of reading nonfiction, I generally make it only halfway through before my attention is captured by story.  Story nourishes my soul in ways that nonfiction, however helpful it might be, never does.  Story captures my imagination, lifts my spirits and encourages my heart.

Here are some of my recent reads that I loved!

 

Creating art

Before I was a mom, I’d have told you that I was a crafty person.  But artistic?  No, not really.  I’ve always been more of a words person.

When my son was young, however, I discovered that he LOVED doing art together.  That started me on an art journey that has been both fascinating and uplifting.  We do art together as a family, and I also have my own art journal that I work in from time to time.  But I do have to say that I enjoy doing it with others most of all!

I’ve discovered that just the process of sitting down and doing art is incredible.  We think of something we’d like to paint, and we get out the watercolor box, paper and water.  Generally, my son works on his art and I work on mine.  We do art with science, art with geography, and art for art class.  And it’s all wonderful.

Sitting down to do art forces you to clear your mind and thoughts of worry, to-do lists, or anything else that’s consuming your moments.  You’re thinking instead of which color to use, what shapes to draw, and what you’re thinking you’d like the finished product to appear as.  That in itself is incredible.  Then, the whole process creates such a peaceful atmosphere.

And, because we like to do art together, we have focused time for conversation.  When you’re all working on something you’re creating, conversation flows easily and relationships are encouraged.  What a great thing to do together as a family…or by yourself!  Even if you’d never describe yourself as artistic, I totally encourage you to try this out.

Enjoy!  –Wren

From Finch:

Sometimes it’s not always the physical challenges that can exhaust you, often I find that dealing with emotionally draining issues, negativity in people and sheer overload of the senses are what I need to recharge from. Add in self inflicted trauma; excessive worry, self doubt, obsessing about something, imagined fears and now you are desperate to recharge your physical and mental self. Here are my top 3 ways to recover each day.

1. Reading a fabulous book (fiction): reading is truly an escape for me, I immerse myself in the plot and characters, be it a complex novel or lighthearted romance.
2. Surrounded by my animals: This usually takes place in bed; everyone cuddling, purring and snoring…so restful and surrounded by love.
3. Assisting my husband in the kitchen: because I’m following directions and assisting him it brings us closer and inevitably laughter ensues.

There are some things I do throughout the day that can reduce emotional exhaustion…I laugh, a lot (often at myself)! Then I take time to be thankful for the blessings that my family and I have. Life can be pretty spectacular if you live as much as possible in the present..something I struggle with a bit, but it’s a goal.

Enjoy and share! Finch