Last Updated on October 1, 2024 by Michael Brockbank
We live in an incredibly fast-paced world. And without the ability to relax, it could cause a myriad of problems for yourself. But some will still push themselves beyond their physical limits by taking care of kids, working multiple jobs and jumping from one task to another.
While this may seem quite productive to you, it may also be hurting your mental and physical states. Being able to relax is vital for your survival.
Why You Need to Relax More Often
Keeping yourself in motion can be a good thing if you’re focusing on exercise. However, it has the potential to be quite harmful in other situations. Both the body and mind may be at risk if you don’t find time to recharge your own batteries.
Increasing Stress
People have varying degrees of how much stress they can handle on any given day. While one person may be able to undergo a great deal of pressure from home and work, another could easily snap at the first sign of trouble.
This is in no way a measure of professionalism or efficiency. Knowing when to stop yourself and take a breath, is.
Taking Care of the Kids
Like the saying goes, “How can you take care of others if you can’t take care of yourself?” I never really fully understood what that meant until I had children. The little ones depend on you for a large portion of their lives.
If your mental and physical state is sub-par, it will affect them directly.
Most children are inherently empathetic toward the parent. Although a lot of mothers and fathers don’t think a child can understand adult issues, they can pick up on emotional states.
If you’re not capable of finding time to relax and collect your thoughts, it will alter a child’s perception of you. They can then become worried and may experience stress themselves.
Reducing Reaction Time
Humans are not capable of maintaining high-energy levels for extended periods of time. Although some of us may have higher degrees of stamina, we all have a finite amount of power to fuel the body. Eventually, muscle fatigue will set in.
When this happens, you’ll become weaker and your reaction time will decrease.
If you’re getting ready for bed, then being too tired to move isn’t all that dangerous. However, it does have the potential to result in a nightmare if you’re driving the kids to school.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, driving drowsy was responsible for more than 70,000 accidents back in 2013. And this is in addition to various studies regarding the ability to relax while on the road.
Driving is only one instance of where slower reaction time can be dangerous. Without being able to stop and slow down, your body will lose its ability for fine motor control over time.
If you’re in construction or physical labor career of some kind, this can put you and your co-workers at great risk.
Illnesses Galore
Some studies show how high levels of stress can play a role in being sick. According to the Washington Post, a study in 1998 demonstrated how those under a great deal of stress too longer to develop antibodies after vaccinations.
This is accompanied by reports of how stress may decrease the immune system. As a result, you’ll be more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections.
This doesn’t mean that a stress-free life will give you the healing abilities of Marvel’s “Deadpool.” However, it will greatly reduce the risks from a menagerie of illnesses.
Irrational Thoughts and Behaviors
When you don’t find time to relax, you may find yourself more prone to irrational thoughts and behaviors. This can lead to poor judgment regarding almost and situation. It’ll affect the decisions you make at work or at home.
Many even experience an ultra high-degree of anger for seemingly no reason at all.
I fall into this category. When I am at the end of my rope, I become angry and anxious for the smallest of reasons.
Once I get to the snapping point, I often pull myself away from others. I’ll hide in my bedroom and try to find ways to calm myself down. It’s better than the alternative of lashing out at family and friends.
Sleep Deprivation
Here’s a catch-22 for you: Stress can cause insomnia. And a lack of sleep can cause stress. So if you relax and get more sleep, you’ll be less stressed. But you can’t sleep because you’re stressed.
Sleep deprivation can cause a myriad of problems aside from stress. It can affect blood pressure, reduce the ability to heal from injuries and cause you to hallucinate.
You can also become less effective at work and begin to make irrational decisions.
Ways to Find Time For Yourself and Relax
For the sake of yourself and those around you, it’s important that you find time for yourself and relax. This can be anything from reading your favorite book to going for a walk through the park.
You need to find something that helps you calm down and unwind.
Unfortunately, too many people try to find comfort at the bottom of a bottle or inside a syringe. In reality, your problems are still going to be there whether you’re clear-headed or not.
So, what’s the point of drowning yourself in illusions of happiness? I’d rather work for the real thing.
Here are some of the ways I try to recharge my batteries when life taps me out.
- Meditation
Yes, I enjoy meditating in the shower with the lights off. In reality, it’s the only place I can actually be at peace thanks to my extended family. - Video Games
Gaming can be quite therapeutic. In fact, many psychologists will suggest patients play more games as a way to empty their minds of current events. - Go For a Bike Ride
Personally, I feel much better after a quick 30-minute ride around the neighborhood. It’s similar to why people exercise when stress levels are high. - Cooking
I rather enjoy cooking. It gives me a chance to focus on something else while being productive in the household. - Writing
I know a lot of people who write because it’s therapeutic for them. In this instance, any artistic expression could be as well. I personally enjoy writing horror when I am in a “mood.”
Relax and Deflate the Tire Before it Pops
Putting yourself in a high-stress environment can be bad for yourself and those around you. From being a danger on the road to making bad judgment calls in your personal life, it can all be affected by finding time for yourself.
It’s not selfish to care for yourself and relax more. In fact, it shows a great deal of responsibility towards you as well as the family.
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