relax

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Long Summer Hols:

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Coffee Break Chill Outs

Stressed Out?		Anxious?
	Tense?
Angry?		Worried?

Choose from these shows to help you relax: (more coming soon)

Classical Guitar and Countryside images - a .wmv file
Music by Andy Kirkham - more tracks at MySpace

Smart Relaxation

Regular relaxation can help keep you healthy and focussed.

Here are some relaxation ideas inspired by Multiple Intelligences theory.

They have been collected together by Dr. Branton Shearer

Do you relax using your strongest intelligences?

Or maybe relaxation for you means giving those intelligences a break?

Find out more about Multiple Intelligences in the Learn section

Make time for your preferred ways of relaxing.
Then try out new ones.

Intrapersonal Relaxation

Keep a stress diary
Recall times in the past when you survived under stress
Remember to exercise your strengths
Reward yourself for taking steps to eliminate stress
Take “me time”
Identify and express negative feelings that you’re holding inside
Remember to practice slow, deep breathing

Spatial Relaxation:

Think of an image that makes you smile or laugh
Review your old photo albums and relive the good times
Assemble a jig-saw puzzle or other visual game
Work on a favorite craft project
Rearrange the furniture or redecorate a room
Create a card or picture for someone you care about
Take a mini-daydream holiday
Watch a favorite video/DVD
Visit a museum/art gallery/cinema
Go to a craft shop

Naturalist Relaxation:

Observe carefully and identify patterns in your daily stress
Record and organize data into a system that makes sense
Get a pet
Groom your dog or cat
Take the dog (or a friend’s dog) for a nice long relaxing walk
Go to the zoo or aquarium
Volunteer at the local animal shelter
Discover how your stress has developed over time
Observe which environments are more or less stressful to you

Existential Relaxation:

Stop and consider the bigger issues and questions in life
Consider your daily problems in a larger perspective:
Are you hungry? Do you have a roof? Are you loved?
Reflect on what your ideal role model would do in a similar (or worse) situation
Ask yourself “What can I learn from this difficult time or situation?”
Consider how you can become a better or more mature person
Ask how you can use this time to do something important for other people
How would you feel about today’s problems if you only had one month to live?
Read your favorite spiritual/religious passage that comforts or soothes you
Read a poem that speaks to your heart
Read a prayer, special book or listen to music that ‘takes you somewhere else’
Visit a special place or sacred place