“Nothing is better than going home to family and eating good food and relaxing.” ― Irina Shayk

Last month I wrote about youth sports. I mentioned how our family looks at the positive aspects of having young athletes and the time it gives us as a family. At times, youth sports do create hectic family schedules and limited openings for downtime. So, this month I was to discuss the importance of finding and prioritizing time for relaxation. Rest and relaxation are just as important as scheduled activities. During this busy time and how we tend to operate as a society, we need to be intentional about planning this quality down time.

Both our body and brain need rest to recover. The average adult attention span continues to shrink. We are constantly stimulated, and we receive many benefits when we rest. Emotions can be felt and processed, information can be stored, our thoughts can be organized, we have an opportunity for personal reflection, and we gain a sense of balance when we just let our brain be.

As an individual and family it is important to take time to quiet the schedule and enjoy simple things with those around you. This is a gift to teach and share with younger generations who are surround by technology and full schedules.

Creating down time does not need to be a grand gesture or vacation. Here are a few ideas of simple ways to incorporate down time for yourself or family:

• A visit to the park, playground, or dog park
• Reading
• Getting outside and moving/walking
• Coloring, arts, and craft projects
• Focused conversation (our family uses Table Talk Cards)
• Laughter/joke telling
• Singing and dancing
• Preparing and eating meals with others
• Game night
• Volunteering together
• Having a picnic
• Be a tourist in your own city
• Movie night
• Exercise, meditation, and sound bath classes

I hope you are able to make room for some time to reset in the upcoming days and weeks. If you need assistance, please reach out to me for a one on one appointment or sound bath to help you feel more calm, balanced, and at peace.