The Art of Relaxation!

Relax....Relax....Relax...!

Something I have been doing for the last 8 weeks of school holiday's and have now had the harsh reality of the "Wake Up Geoff" slap in the face.  Yes the romance is over and it's back to the grind of routine and life.

It's funny but believe it or not, I am actually not very good at relaxing.....shhhh
don't tell anyone!  If you ask my DH (Dear Husband), he would confirm this fact.

There is infact an art to relaxing!  Its true.

As a perfectionist and mum of 4 girls, I have been conditioned in the "army" of motherhood to do do do all the time.  If you are a parent you will understand this.  There have been many a quote to back up this theory.

"So many children, so little time",  "When the kids grow up...then I can do so and so",  "after I've cooked tea, washed the dishes, ironed the uniforms, signed the school notes, made the lunches, fed the animals, performed my wifely duties...(did I just say that?)...."

And as a parent I find myself still standing and clearing up past 8 o clock at night.  No matter how organised I am.

Not many parents put themselves first, and if you are one of them that have worked this balance out, then I salute you!

When my DH and I go on holiday together, he's the one lounging around in bed all day reading a book, I can do this for a few hours only, then I fidget, and need to do something...usually cleaning even on holidays (it's a sickness!).

So what are your favourite ways of relaxing?

My first thing I like to do is read.  Since getting a Kindle for Christmas, I have not been able to put it down.  It's like having a bookstore in your hand, and with a flick of the switch here, and a button press there, you have an instant best seller at your fingertips, all at a fraction of the cost.  Even better still the Library is free.  Oh and yes, the red kindle cover makes you read faster!

My other place to relax is in the hammock.  Infact, it's where I go to hide when I don't want the kids in my face!  Don't tell them.....  My hammock is a double hammock, in which I can wrap myself up in, and if I lie really still in it, no one suspects I'm in there.....I can hear them walking around the house calling "mum"..."where are you".  Ahhh, love the hammock.

Another tip you might want to try, is changing your name to "dad".  They never call him!!!!!  (Am I right?)

Anyway, back to relaxing.

I have a favourite spot in the house, my red lounge.  Of course you know by now red is my favourite colour, red makes you relax faster!

Some in my household would say "there is too much red", but I beg to differ...you can never have too much red!

You might notice others in my family relax quite well also.  There is something to be said about having a pool...for me it's invaluable.  Yes it's alot of work, yes it can cost money to maintain....but the joy it brings to our family far outweighs the cost.  It especially comes in handy for 2 homeschooled kids who get fidgity after sitting at the kitchen table for 4 hours doing schoolwork.....they need to let off steam somehow.

You might also notice the other member of my family, the furry kind!  He has made relaxing an art.  Notice how he spreads himself so flat, we could actually turn him into a rug in the future.....look out Olly! 
Like a bear skin in the den!  Now that might work!

If all else fails to relax me.  There are two trusty friends I have, that no matter what happens, they always cheer me up.  I could be having a very bad day, and they are there for me.  I could be suffering high anxiety, and they offer help.
Anyone who knows me knows who they are......

I even named my cat after one of these friends....

Thats right "Cadbury" chocolate, and "coffee".  My two trusty companions that get me through those "Stella Moments"

How do you relax?