Wikipedia defines "to relax" as

Summer is here and this time of year is synonymous with vacations, and don't vacations mean relaxation? This may be debatable since I've come home from vacations and felt anything but relaxed. But generally speaking this time of year means vacations and at least the intention of relaxation.

What exactly does it mean to relax and why would you wait until your vacation to do it?

Wikipedia defines "to relax" as the following:
To make something loose.
To become loose.
To make something less severe or tense.
To become less severe or tense.
To become more lenient.
To relieve from stress.

It's really all about this last one: To relieve stress. Would you agree it is not healthy to walk around nine or ten months of the year in a state of tension and stress? Yet this is what you are really saying when you use vacation (or summertime) as your designated time to relax.

You must learn to relax daily or the effects of constant stress are eventually reflected in your body. What if you just took the afternoon off for no good reason? I know you "type A's" out there are gasping in disbelief and I understand this because I'm one too. Please remember, finding a way to relax consistently does not mean you give up being Type A, it actually means you'll have more resources to perform Type A functions.

As I've gotten older I've had several health practitioners tell me I've "burned out my adrenals" which is another way of saying I've lived in an almost constant state of mental and emotional stress for a long time. It is well documented that this type of stress is directly linked to physical pain, emotional issues and other types of illness or dis-ease.

As a single parent and the virtual sole support of myself and my daughter for the majority of her minor years, I was in a constant state of stress. This continual state of stress can cause overuse of the adrenals, which it did for me. This walnut sized gland situated directly on top of your kidneys performs an incredibly important function called the "fight or flight" response (secreting adrenaline) essential to survival. Additionally, the adrenal cortex, the outer lining of the adrenal gland, is responsible for producing hormones including cortisol, DHEA, estrogen and testosterone. This is a mighty important gland with a life-sustaining function which we often take for granted. Taking care of them is a really good idea.

Here in Northern California most of us would not consider giving up our cars but what happens to your car when you neglect it? It eventually stops working. Your body is the same. You must perform regular maintenance on your body to keep it running well so it lasts 80 to 90 years. This is why incorporating short, daily blocks of relaxation is important.

What can you do to take good care of your adrenals (and the rest of your body) and keep them all happy and functioning well? Relax and do it daily. You must give your mind and body down time. You must have time to rejuvenate. The most obvious way to do this is through sleep and yet sleep is not enough.

Here are several common sense reminders to build into your daily life and give your body the rejuvenation it needs to run smoothly for a very long time.

Eat well. A little nosh of Xocai healthy chocolate daily is great because it is antioxidant rich (antioxidants = anti-aging).
Get regular uninterrupted sleep. Not everyone needs 8 hours. They do consistent sleep to rejuvenate.
Move your body (which means you are exercising your internal organs as well). It has been proved that doing three 10 minute aerobic sessions over the course of the day is just as effective as doing 30 minutes at one time.
Set aside time daily to calm your mind. There are many wonderful types of meditation. I prefer a guided meditation myself.
Have a massage once a week.
Go to a Goddess workshop.
Love yourself.
Appreciate yourself.
Enjoy yourself.

So just relax.

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