Do you ever just forget to have fun?  To simply slowdown that marathon pace, relax, and chill?  And not because you had to?

Here it is, almost the end of September – the new January these days! – when we steel ourselves for that last sprint to complete outstanding goals and to-do’s by year end.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could somehow bottle that relaxed pace we tend to adopt in the summer, and keep it going… FOREVER??

Well, maybe that’s a bit dramatic. But, if you’re anything like me, I reaaalllly want to be more disciplined about keeping a balanced pace for myself for the rest of 2019.

Who doesn’t want more down time, relaxation, ease, and fun on a regular basis?

And I’m not gonna lie. Every year I stress out about what I’ll do for that many days that isn’t tied to a kid, my hubby, work, or my daily to-do list.  And yes, sadly, I do struggle with what to plan for fun and relaxation….

But this year I changed all that! Woohoo! And yes thank you, I had a FABULOUS time away with my bffs.

I can’t wait to share how I stopped wrestling with HOW to unwind and relax!

Let’s face it. When we’re in our heads all day every day, racing from one task to the next, it’s H.A.R.D. to jump off that hamster wheel and switch into RELAX mode!

I do know I’m not alone, though. It’s a common complaint I often hear from many of the strong, smart women I have the privilege of coaching.

Maybe you know this rabbit hole, too? Well, you’re in for a treat then! 

4 TIPS TO RELAX AND HAVE FUN… NO MATTER HOW FAST YOUR HAMSTER WHEEL IS SPINNING!

1. GET PLAYFUL

This is a mindset thing. Think of a word that describes how you’d like to BE or FEEL – either in the immediate short term or as an ongoing habit.

I came up with the word PLAYFUL because I’m fed up stressing about how to unwind and what to do for fun every year my retreat rolls around.

That word was soooo wonderfully effective for me, I’m making it my daily mantra for the balance of 2019!

The word you choose should feel yummy to you – positive, full of ease and flow, and describes exactly how you want to be and feel.

You want it to be an ideal reminder and permission-giver to loosen the black and white, rigid thinking.

Need some thought starters for your word? A thesaurus is great – here are some possible word ideas to get you going for ‘relax’ and ‘fun’:

• RELAX – Calm, unwind, rest, tranquil, ease, lounge
• FUN – Amusing, enjoyable, lively, merry, laughter, gratifying, play

2. GET CREATIVE

This is a DOING thing. The goal is to intentionally get out of your head and engage in some form of creative self-expression.

Engaging in any creative activity gives us a definite mood boost, and releases stress.

Creativity is a big THING! Do a quick google search for the benefits of creativity for adults, and close to 40.5 million results pop up!

Studies report health and mental benefits including less anxiety and depression, disease prevention, even delayed cognitive aging and some forms of dementia.

Social prescribing the healing power of the arts is even starting to pop up among healthcare providers in the UK!

I love the expression that creativity is like yoga for the brain. Its’ meditative, calming nature clears our head and refocuses our attention to be in the moment.

Creativity never really been your thing? Just not feeling inspired?  These ideas might spark your muse:

• Draw or doodle
• Paint or colour
• Sing, dance or play an instrument
• Write or journal
• Garden
• Bake or cook
• Do Crafts
• Sew, bead or embroider
• Knit, crochet, felt

INSIDER COACH TIP… Whatever creative outlet you choose to do, be sure it’s unrelated to your work, to-do list, or any kind of ‘should’.

It can be as simple as adult colouring or an elaborate immersion into a ground-breaking new area of creativity for you.

During my girlfriend retreat all sorts of creativity happened: Felting, knitting, lettering, etching, drawing, kumihimo, zentangling, digital art, writing, sewing, embroidery….

And of course there was relaxation and fun, but… what happens at the cabin, stays at the cabin, right?! 

3. GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD

Since we make a zillion decisions a day, staying in our heads, is a given.  Puhleeze… Don’t be like me and OVERTHINK every creative choice or decision like its life and death.

It’s not…. And it sucks the fun right out of whatever you’re doing. Realllly FAST!

Overthinking is a sure sign, you’re wayyyy too up in your head. The trick is to drop out of your head and trust your gut. 

How do you do that, you ask?

LET GO of the need to know the final outcome and/or the relentless pursuit of “pretty” or perfection.

Give your brain a rest – follow your instincts! Then, you’ll do what FEELS most natural.

And guess what? It’s easier, and it works! Every. Single. Time.

4. FIND YOUR SWEET SPOT

This is about finding your own groove. It’s getting out of your head, loosening the reins on your ‘shoulds’ and ‘have to’s’, and sinking into a RELAXED, comfy mode.

…YOUR way.

It takes developing a regular practice of jumping off that hamster wheel to slow your hectic pace with some built-in relaxation and fun.

This year’s retreat was my kick start. I spent my time writing, reading, and creating some Xtreme doodles – yes, my blog image (inspired by Olivia Alexandrienne Kneibler) is one of them!

A few of us made a pact to draw – every day – between now and next year’s retreat! To keep ourselves accountable, we share our daily drawings in our private Facebook group.

I’m excited! This creative practice will develop the balance of relaxation and fun I’m seeking.

So what about you, Bella? What will you do to slow your pace down enough to relax?

For you, that might mean literally scheduling some relaxed fun into your daily agenda.

Even if it’s less than 30 minutes a day, once a week, or monthly… yay YOU!

Whether it’s time spent reading something delicious, being in nature, listening to music, dancing, baking or [fill in the blank], make it a consistent PRACTICE.

RECAP! 4 EASY-PEASY TIPS FOR RELAXATION & FUN!

TIP #1.                       Find your yummiest ‘be/feel’ WORD

TIP #2.                       Do something CREATIVE you enjoy

TIP #3.                       Stay OUT of your head

TIP #4.                       Make it a regular PRACTICE in your life (that’s your sweet spot!)

I’m excited for you to try these 4 tips!  You’ll discover some juicy benefits – like more energy, a happier pace, and a LOT less stress!

Now, get playful, relax and enjoy Bella!     

Going at a marathon pace? Struggling to slow down, relax or bring back some fun in your life? Let’s chat.

Book a FREE Clarity Chat with me on my calendar by clicking this button.

Is relaxation and fun missing in your life?  Could it be creating major stress for you, maybe even burnout?

Tell me how you de-stress to relax and have fun.

Which tips above resonate the most for you? Leave me your comments in the space below (and thanks for sharing!).