The best ways to relax in the fall

Although the sun and warmth make summer the feel-good season of the year, many people find fall – or autumn, depending on what part of the world you live in – a soothing month.

There’s much to admire – the beautiful autumnal colours of the leaves on the trees, the comforting food and drink, like stews, soups and hot chocolate (for pumpkin spiced everything if you like).

Of course, fall can be a stressful time too as schools and universities start their new semesters then, which can mean a new chapter in the lives of many students and teachers. It is therefore essential to find the best way you can to find some relaxation time in fall.

Here are some of the best ways to chill out and destress in fall:

Explore nature around you

Ok, so you might not be donning that summer dress or pulling on the hiking shorts, but there is still a lot to admire about the world around you. Wrap up warm, go for a walk and see the multi-coloured leaves blowing in the wind and breath in that nice fresh air.

Bake some treats

Eating cakes and freshly-baked bread can be comforting, but so can making it. There is something quite therapeutic about rolling dough and mixing together all the ingredients, not to mention the sense of achievement you get at the finished product.

Hook up with friends

As the days get shorter and the weather is a little less favourable, it can be quite easy to retreat into our shells and effectively hibernate. However, that can lead to us introverting and getting down. Meeting up with friends for a coffee (a pumpkin spiced latte if you must) can be a great way to unwind and destress.

Find more great ways to relax with the books at www.unnomedia.com.

Combating stress doesn’t have to break the bank

Stress seems to be part of our daily lives and a whole industry appears to have sprung up dedicated to combating all kinds of stress. However, given the money can be one of the prime sources of stress for a lot of people, parting with a large amount of cash to go on a spa retreat or pay for long massage may not actually alleviate the problem.

There are many little things we can do from time to time to reduce stress and which have the added benefit of not breaking the bank.

Although time is another commodity we may claim to not have enough of when we allow the cloud of stress to fog our judgement, many effective relaxation methods require neither large amounts of time nor money.

One popular relaxation technique is body scanning. Don’t worry, this doesn’t involve any machinery, but does require you to be tuned into your body. What you do is lied down on you back, either on a mat or in bed. You then conduct a mental scan of your body, starting with focusing on your toes and moving all the way up your body.

At each point, try to be aware of how your body feels and where the stress may be at its most acute. This can be done just before you go to sleep as it is a great way of unwinding and clearing your mind of all the other thoughts of the day. Combine this with some slow and deliberate breathing and you will start to notice the stress fade away.

Find more relaxation techniques by checking out the books www.unnomedia.com.

Tips for tackling those tasks which are weighing you down

One of the main reasons behind our inability to relax regularly is the seemingly endless number of day-to-day tasks we need to get through. Nevermind that you have a full-time job to deal with, there are always 101 things which seem to need going, but never get done. You could be tired, stressed out or simply daunted by the sheer volume of things on your to-do list. Relaxation can wait.

However, you can get yourself into a calmer frame of mind by tackling these tasks in a more structured way. Here are a number of ways to burn through that mental to-do list that’s weighing down on your brain every day.

Get a ‘Things to do today’ book

This can anything from a diary with pages for each day to any sort of book with blank lined pages. Write the date on each page and underneath it, the list of things you need to get done in that day. Do not list any more than five tasks as this will overwhelm you. Instead jot down a few things which need done and tick them off as you do them. Ticking off is great way to get a little mini buzz of achievement and also means you’re whittling down that list bit by bit.

Ask for help

You may be too proud to ask, but trying to tackle everything yourself will send you crazy. If your kids are old enough, try and think if there are little things you can trust them with. For bigger tasks, try to rope in friends and family and this has the added bonus of creating a social aspect to your task tackling.

For more advice on how to tackle to tough things in life and achieve relaxation check out the books at www.unnomedia.com.

Everyday Mindfulness: Take a daily dive into your day

Mindfulness is all very well, but do you really have the time for it in your hectic day? Well, chances are your day isn’t as hectic as you make it out to be, which is why you need to practice some daily mindfulness.

Contrary to some beliefs, you don’t have to go on a week-long retreat to experience mindfulness. In fact, it is much more effective if you incorporate it into your daily life and as the ultimate goal is to be able to calmly handle whatever life can throw at you.

The key to mindfulness is being fully present and aware of whatever you are doing so, in theory, you can practice mindfulness at any time of the day.

Even getting out of bed can be a good opportunity for you to be mindful. Instead of rolling over and hitting the snooze button, you should slowly sit up, stretch and take a few deep breaths. Spend a minute of becoming aware of your body, wriggle your toes and fingers and stand up in a purposeful manner.

Senses are a big part of mindfulness too. From being aware of the touch of the hot water on your body during your morning shower, to savoring the flavors of your food during the day and taking time to study the world around you with all the colors and sounds it throws up.

Mindfulness can easily be incorporated into your daily life because it involves taking just a few moments to think more deeply about the things you do and experience every day.

For more tips on mindfulness and other self-help pointers, check out the books at www.unnomedia.com.