Learning how to relax with time off work

Hi
I’ve got a week off work at home I.e. with no planned activities outside the usual household stuff and driving my son to classes etc. I’m so used to overworking that I’m finding it hard to switch off. I’ve got some activities like swimming, walks, reading a novel, swinging in the hammock when it’s warm enough to be outside, cooking for pleasure, breath work for grounding, but I still don’t really feel relaxed. I’m experimenting with the thoughts that ‘I’m already relaxed’ or ‘ I can be relaxed’ without wanting to force it. Any other tips on approach or mindset etc. would be much appreciated.

Answer:

Great start! Keep exploring and seeing what works for you. Check if there is a physical or nervous system component to what you are experiencing.  Keep trying on thoughts. Think of some that don’t have the word “relaxed” in them. Notice how the activity you choose to do is not what creates a relaxed feeling.

You may also want to explore what thoughts might be blocking you from being relaxed. For example:

C: I have a week off work at home

T: I’m finding it hard to switch off

F: frustrated

A: judge myself, try to do relaxing activities, tell myself I am doing something wrong

R: I prove my thought true

Think of a time where you were able to be truly, deeply relaxed. What was that version of you thinking? What were they not thinking?