58: The Relaxation Paradox: We Know We Should and Why We Can't

The Habit Thrive Podcast ~ Self Care Habits, Mindfulness & Wellness Routines for Women 50 & Beyond

It’s Friday evening after a long, hard week.

You’ve run yourself a nice, warm bath with some essential oils or Epsom salts.

Maybe you have soft music🎼 playing and your favorite beverage🍷 nearby.

As you sink down into the water, you grab your phone to just check one thing…

… twenty minutes later, the water is cooling and you realize you have gone down the rabbit hole of social media posts, news stories and comments.📱

You were supposed to be letting the stress of the day melt away, but you’re actually not relaxed at all!😳

What happened?

The truth is that relaxation is a habit that sometimes requires us to make a conscious decision to do.☝️

That’s our focus this month on the Habit Thrive Podcast, and we are starting today on Episode #58 by talking about The Relaxation Paradox: We Know We Should and Why We Can't.

Just like some habits we have discussed in past episodes, we are going to delve into relaxation by first exploring our why.🤔

When establishing any new skill or activity, knowing your “why” is not only important, it also inspires your first step.

Once you begin the steps toward your relaxation habit - and repeat them consistently - the habit grows until you no longer have to think about your relaxation time. It becomes automatic and non-negotiable because your body and mind crave it!

Relaxation provides numerous benefits that contribute to overall well-being and quality of life:

• Physically💪 - Stressed bodies release stress hormones that affect our heart, immune system, digestive system and sleep. Relaxation can promote a state of calm and relaxation to lower these.
• Mentally🧠 - Relaxation can help quiet the chattering mind, allowing more space for peace and quiet and leading to improved focus, concentration and mental clarity.
• Emotionally❤️ - When we are relaxed, our bodies release endorphins, which are natural feel-good chemicals that promote a sense of contentment. Relaxation can enhance our emotional resilience and improve our ability to cope with life's challenges.

Sounds great, right?

Then why is it so hard to just relax?!

There are three reasons for this:

1. Your brain naturally seeks a quick dopamine rush, and we don’t get it when we relax. The positive effects of relaxation are more delayed, so often we don’t realize the good we are doing fast enough to satisfy our brain.
2. You stress about relaxation! You feel like “just sitting there” is a waste of valuable time, so you spend your time thinking about all the things you feel like you should be doing instead.
3. Your brain is drawn to drama. Remember that social media rabbit hole we talked about that prevented your relaxing bath?

So think about why YOU can’t relax.

Keep in mind all the positive benefits😍 you are missing out on when omitting relaxation from your routine, and find a way to eliminate your personal obstacles one step at a time.

By incorporating relaxation in our daily routine, we can create a positive cycle of self-care that supports our overall health and well being.

Lorrie xoxox

Want to know your dosha? Take the quiz at chopra.com

I would be so grateful if you would take a minute and provide some feedback on this podcast. It helps me keep things tailored specifically for you! Take the survey here.

Loving the show? Let’s connect! Find me:

Facebook: Women's Wellness Community: For women wanting to rock their “Me Now” Years

Instagram: @Habitguru365

Website: lorriemickelson.com

Habits, Mindfulness Routines & Self Care For Women 50 & Beyond