Its National Relaxation Day - 15th August

While you won’t make it far in life without putting your best foot forward, it’s hard to avoid burnout without kicking that foot up on an ottoman every now and then. Relaxation is just as crucial to a successful life as hard work is, and it’s something that should be commemorated. So, on Aug. 15, we celebrate National Relaxation Day!

Exploring relaxation can help you look after yourself when you’re feeling stressed or worried. Have a look at these tips and ideas to see how relaxation can fit into your daily life. Don’t worry if some ideas don’t work for you – just enjoy the ones that do

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• Read a book or a magazine, even if it’s only for a few minutes.

• Run yourself a bath, watch a film, play with a pet or try out a new recipe.

• Take a walk, going at your own pace. You might choose to go for a longer walk, but even a few minutes of walking can help you feel relaxed.

• Look for a class you'd like to try, such as yoga, Pilates or gentle stretching.

• Try turning your phone off for an hour (or a whole day if you’re feeling brave).

• Step away from the TV, or have an evening where you don’t check emails or social networks. Use the time to do something relaxing – you could try some of the ideas above.

• Breath focus. In this simple, powerful technique, you take long, slow, deep breaths (also known as abdominal or belly breathing). As you breathe, you gently disengage your mind from distracting thoughts and sensations.

• Playing music is a great way to relieve stress and promote relaxation for your family and friends as well as yourself. (Music therapy is a growing field), it can be conveniently used effectively for relaxation as well.

• Working out can be a good way to release stress and blow off steam. Second, the endorphins released during a good workout can aid relaxation quite nicely.

What do you like to do to relax, remember to make some time for you.

Making space in your life for relaxation is only one part of managing your mental health.