3 Ways to Relax

When Tommy Bahama invited me to help spread their campaign #GoRelax in honor of National Relaxation Day coming up on August 15, it was the perfect opportunity to share with you my favorite ways to relax. When your cell phone is constantly vibrating with texts, emails, calls and Instagram notifications day and night, it can be a bit overwhelming. You find yourself multi-tasking at answering emails while watching TV or texting while catching up with a friend, and before you know it, it seems like the whole day was technological blur. Does this sound familiar?

Instead of that chaotic feeling, I’m asking you to spend today unwinding with me. Imagine yourself on a beach, reading, relaxing and letting your mind wander. Listen to music or just sit and spend time by yourself without your phone to allow your mind a moment to unwind for the day. It is the little luxuries in life like these that we need to take time to enjoy. Not only will it renew your mind and body but it can help lower your blood pressure and help lead to a longer, healthier life.

I’ve felt very convicted lately about needing to tune out the noise, to re-center my focus to love God and love people and put all other things behind these priorities in my life. Unfortunately in a social media driven world, it’s even easier to become me-focused. Here’s a list of things I’ve come up with to help me relax and spend time nurturing relationships with friends, family and my Savior.

3 Ways to Relax:

1. Write cards. As you may have seen in a recent post, I love sending and receiving cards. I used to carry cards and envelopes around with me everywhere so when I had extra time I could write a note to brighten someone’s day. As smart phones make it easier for me to occupy my every spare moment, that habit has gone by the wayside. As of today, I will put cards back in my purse and take the time to write when I’m in waiting rooms or have down time between appointments.

2. Prayer and time in the Bible. Isn’t it amazing how God has an uncanny ability to quiet your soul like no one else can? I love the unmistakeable peace of God’s presence when I take the time to soak in His greatness and listen. So often, we want to talk the whole time in our prayers, but often God calls us to listen for our next step, so He can guide us. This relationship with God is one that needs to be nurtured and grown just like any other relationship. We need to spend the time to get to know our Heavenly Father even better. This is a daily walk I’m continuing to pursue, because like most southern women, I LOVE to talk and sometimes it can be hard to “Be Still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

3. Being outside. Whether I’m laying by the pool or the beach, if I’m by the water, I’m a happy girl. Some of my favorite ways to unwind are to be outdoors. Sometimes that means basking in the sun with friends at the pool and other times it means going on a run or walk by myself without any music. The few times I do go for a run without music makes me feel so in tune with my thoughts, and gives me more time to pray. I’m a big believer in Vitamin D from the sun and enjoying the beauty God has created all around us. (Wear your sunscreen, of course, my beauties!)

If you need some additional ways to relax, Tommy Bahama is hosting the “Summer of Go” sweepstakes where you can enter to win various travel packages {each week!} or the grand prize of a Hawaiian vacation! For details on the weekly prizes and the grand prize head on over to their landing page. Go enter now! No purchase necessary. Tommy Bahama will also have several events and promotions on National Relaxation Day at all of their Tommy Bahama Island Locations (this is a store and restaurant combined) so if you are near one, pencil it on your calendar to stop by!

Since this post is sponsored by Tommy Bahama, if you’ll do me a favor and click over to their site from HERE to check them out I’d really appreciate it because you’re showing them you found out about their promotion through my blog! Thank you for supporting the brands that make My Life Well Loved happen. All opinions and expression are 100% my own.

Images: 1/2/3