3 Ways To Completely “Reset” In The Time It Takes For Your Kid To Watch Their Favorite Show

Indulge in a Bath

I did not take baths for the longest time because I always felt that it was too much of a hassle and too time-consuming to deal with. During a particularly rough day, a good friend surprised me with a candlelit bath, which served to change my world. It only took a mere 10-15 minutes of soaking time to feel like a new person. Immersing yourself in warm water is an incredibly comforting feeling that we often deprive ourselves of, and there is no reason to do so. 

Put together a nice basket with some bath salts or bubbles, oils, incense, candles, green or jasmine tea, or any other items that indulge your senses. Keep a basket of all of your favorite things in the bathroom. Try to stimulate all of the senses.  Include good quality chocolate or tranquil herbal tea for your tastebuds. Pour some essential oils in the water or burn some lavender incense for a tranquil scent. Throw on a relaxing mix of music, such as Anugama (look for the Pandora station or youtube playlist.) 

While immersed in your bath, enjoy each moment, clear your head, and allow yourself to be taken over by bliss.  You really only need 10-15 minutes for a complete reset. 

Experience a guided meditation

Sometimes we need a little help and guidance with our mind. If all you have is 20 minutes and a pair of headphones, you can still achieve inner peace in a small amount of time. For an added optional touch, light a candle and some incense. 

The UCLA Mindful awareness Research Facility has some great meditations available online here: http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22

One of my favorites from Youtube is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEl6_pRK4-w

Experiment with different ones! You have nothing to lose by quieting your mind for 20 minutes, and so much to gain from it. 

Move your body mindfully

After a day of moving from one thing to the next, the last thing you want to do when you get a break is to exercise.  Fortunately, I am not asking you to exercise. Moving your body for the sake of pleasure and awareness is such a fulfilling experience. You may have experienced the affect with yoga, which is a practice I highly recommend. Another way of mindfully moving your body is through dancing. Moving to music is a sacred and primitive act that has been cherished by human beings since the dawn of our existence. Just look at how often your children dance, and know that it is an inherent and natural part of our existence. Yet, for some reason, dancing and music is often shoved to the bottom of our priority list once we “grow up” and our days become filled with tasks and to-dos. When is the last time you danced? 

Dance to just two songs, and you will find a shift in perspective and mood. 

All of these have something very important in common: Presence. 

They bring your attention to your body and breath, and help eliminate the distractions and concerns from your busy mind. 

Let us know in the comments if you have any other ways of relaxing in a short amount of time! 

Written by: Norma Shea