ONCE again, summer is here. As always, leisure is welcome as a change of activity, a break or a time to get out. Especially during summer, leisure is a refresh button.
No matter what it is that we do, what our profession is or lack thereof, we live in a tiring world where stress finds its way to us. There will always be things that bring us down or cause us to fret, to worry about what could be and to fuss over what has been. This is why it’s quite important to have time for leisure.
If we have overlook them again, these are the following ways and means most people find leisure during weekends this summer or much better, all-year-round. Get-togethers -- we need to meet family and friends regularly. Nowadays, there are plenty of places where we can hang out with them. Getaways -- it’s easy to go somewhere outside of the city. If not, a staycation in some of the best hotels in the city might be the leisure you need. Gaming -- it’s not just computer games. It includes casual sports like golfing, playing tennis, basketball in a nearby court or football in an old college field. Sports during the weekend is a great and healthy way to release all that negative vibe you could have accumulated.
There’s also preferring instead to just spend the weekends reading a good book or watching your favorite shows at home. Sometimes, a good nap is all we need to revive our spirits. Also, the weekend is a good time to spend appreciating what we have, reflecting on accomplishment -- on things that we can be grateful for. Whether we spend it in prayer or meditation, reflection is a weekend habit of successful people.
Rest and relaxation are strong antidotes for stress. Without an occasional break from our busy schedules, we subject ourselves to increasing stress. We burn the candle at both ends and eventually burn out. Slow down if you think, feel, act you’re moving too fast or you’ll suffer the consequences of stress. These can include frequent headaches, stomach problems, physical weariness, insomnia, high blood pressure or drug and alcohol dependency.
Most of all, if you’re like me to be reminded every now and then, that we must watch our health and choose to be happy all the time. It is necessary that we exercise regularly, get a proper amount of sleep and maintain a balanced diet. We should minimize the intake of caffeine drinks, sugar products, salt and junk foods. Also, we may take vitamins supplements which help relieve stress, such as C and B complex with doctor’s advice. And the 5 ways to keep a happy attitude are invest in relationships, express gratitude, be optimistic, find purpose and if possible, find a reason to be happy every day.