Never is it harder for me to relax than when someone asks me to.
I try. I really do, but it seems I wasn’t built with that gene.
A glass or two of wine certainly helps, as does a napping child, or a really great workout, but in large part I’m constantly in motion. I’d love to blame motherhood but the truth is, I’ve always been this way. I’m the most energetic person I know, a part from my son, of course.
I don’t know how to nap and hardly watch TV because I get too antsy. I piddle around the house late at night; organizing and reorganizing God knows what, making lists and perusing the Internet. Even writing, which has proven to be tremendously helpful, makes me anxious.
I’ve tried yoga and love it but find it difficult to stay focused and consistent with a practice. I’ve tried meditating, but always end up with a mind full of more things I think I need to do.
I drive myself nuts.
I drive my husband nuts.
I’m starting to see my wacky behavior in Lucas, which scares me. I’m hoping his intense energy level is due to his age, but he’s very very busy and thrives on moving from one activity to the next. The upside to teaching him how to relax is benefiting me as well.
I blame my father for my craziness. He was the same way, only worse! The man never sat down. With him, it was all about the next thing.
He hated dining out. As soon as the check arrived, he was reaching for his wallet and ready to head for the door. This was very frustrating growing up and even more so once I became an adult and wanted to have leisurely meals with him and talk about anything and everything.
Maybe with age or the strong urging of my mother, my father enjoyed collecting stamps and would spend hours cataloging his latest find. He would research the origin and delicately place his treasures in one of the dozens of binders that filled our entire guestroom closet. Those binders are full of the most exotic, colorful, beautiful stamps you have ever seen. Stamps he culled from all over the world. My father’s hobby helped calm him, helped him with the very fine art of relaxing.
Perhaps a mind numbing hobby would do the trick for me too?
What helps you relax? If you have a child, how are you teaching them to relax? If you blog, besides writing, what are your other hobbies?
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Me too! Although not with physical fidgeting, but mental fidgeting. I can’t turn my brain off and it drives me nuts.
Fidget fidget fidget.
Wait, that wasn’t helpful at all, was it?
Sorry, I can’t help either!!! My brain keeps spinning and I don’t think I would be able to follow yoga classes or meditation classes! Maybe I should try! Emma’s the same, however she fidgets way more (physically) than I do. I make her do a lot of sport and it helps!
I have the fidget gene too. TV was great before Tivo….I would get my futzing done during commercial breaks. I also found yoga to do the same thing: get me thinking about too many things.
The one thing that turns down the brain and the antsy body is swimming. Lots of swimming. It takes at least 10 laps to get my brain to chill out and relax into the exercise. When I get out, my brain is clear and my energy depleted.
My husband and I BOTH have a hard time relaxing, but with different things! And our genes are definitely showing their presence in our children. While I can relax at mealtime, wanting to linger and talk after we’re done eating, my husband is ready to go have another adventure. While my husband can watch movies that bore me to tears, I have to be up and doing something, anything. We are both early risers, eager to start our day. I can relax with a book, but it has to be a good one. Even if I am running I get restless though and need to switch activities, so I don’t feel like I am wasting my time doing one thing for too long. Relaxing is hard for me now when I have so little free time for myself. If I try to take a hot bath, my mind starts thinking after a few minutes about the other things I need or want to do and I am no longer relaxed. Wine definitely helps, but not enough 🙂
seems i’m a bit of a busy body too. I’m always cleaning, fixing, making a list – doing something!
I am envious, because I have never had a lot of energy. I used to workout (which I hate) and wait for the rush of “energy” all the experts promised and instead I’d need to take a nap. It’s frustrating….but I tell lots of people that I am “the laziest person I know” LOL.
I love TV and reading. When my brain needs to slow down I turn on the DVR and watch someone else’s lives (and I hate reality TV) on scripted TV 😉
I wish you luck with finding something to slow u down a little. Maybe we could compromise..I give u a little “lazy”, you give me the excess of energy and we both have the perfect amount. Deal??? Xo
When I saw your tweet that said Frankie Says Relax.. All I could think of was the Friends episode where Ross asks for his shirt back from Rachel. My mind does random correlations.
Back to the topic at hand- I used to scrapbook. I have a group of friends that we would get together and make some great albums. We even have stores where we can go & sit or shop or create. Plus, it gives me something to do with the bajillions of pictures I take.
I do not have this problem. I like to keep busy, but when it’s time to relax I give in. One thing that does help, on the rare occasions I feel antsy is thinking about living in the moment. I turn off the phone and just try to “be” either with the kids, the husband, or asleep! Good luck.
First, love the new design. Can’t believe I hadn’t stopped by to see it yet!
I love to sit and watch TV…it’s a total escape for me. I’m actually jealous of people who are constantly in motion because I feel like they get so much more done than I do.
I have also found running to be a great way to release physical and mental energy. You can do it with or without music, it’s like meditating while moving.
Weird as it sounds, I feel most relaxed when I have time to do a good organizing project.
Yep, me too. Wait, what were we talking about?
I downloaded a medication recording, because I can’t do it by myself. And… I haven’t yet sat still long enough to try it. But it sounds like it would work. It’s here if you want to check it out: http://www.fluentself.com/free-stuff/
Kudos for being able to do yoga. Maybe I haven’t given it the proper chance, but it drives me nuts. I can’t seem to shake the “I’d rather be doing something else”. And, I think you found your hobby!!! Just do it with your feet up.
I used to be this way but over the years I have slowed down a lot. I’m able to nap and relax when give the chance.