We live in a culture of being busy. Even when we have time, we quickly move on and create another ‘to do’ on our already long list! It seems never ending and it does not allow us time to relax, recharge and to reduce our stress level. This is a widespread problem and a culprit behind our chronic stress and anxiety. What do we do when we just do not have the time time? Here are some easy to implement solutions:

  1. Give yourself permission.

You need to give yourself permission to take excellent care of yourself and to take time off to relax. Taking care of yourself is not selfish. It is the opposite. When you are able to take care of yourself, you become more available to other people and everyone around you reaps the benefits!

  1. Seize the moment.

Is your meeting pushed back 10 minutes, you child’s play-date ran longer, or you are waiting for an appointment? Most of us are immediately on our electronic devices; reading another e-mail, or making one more phone-call. The next time this happens consider it your bonus relaxation time. Close your eyes and meditate or do some abdominal breathing, relax and allow this to be an oasis in our noisy and busy world.

  1. Take a 5-minute vacation

The next time you feel stressed or too busy give yourself a 5-minute vacation. Close your eyes and sit in a comfortable position with your arms and legs uncrossed. Imagine your ideal vacation spot. Picture it as clearly as you can, using your five senses. Picture what you would be doing; Are you sitting on the beach watching the waves, are you in Parisian Café—sitting and people watching, are you hiking in a national park? Give yourself time to really take in the scenery, breathe it in, and notice how you feel while on vacation. Remind yourself that you can take this feeling into your busy life and that you can take this mini-vacation as often as you wish.

Need help with anxiety in the Chicago area? Give Dr. Helen Odessky a call at (847)529-8600 to see if she can help.