Dedicated “Me” Time

positive mental health

Having dedicated me time is a must for everyone. If people don’t take time out of their day to relax and wind down it can make them tired or worn down. Helen Lee Schifter has worked as a trader on Wall street, and an editor at Hearst and Conde Nast from 2011 to present day. Helen practices a Japanese concept called Shinrin-yoku. It translates to “Forest bathing.” It is basically taking the time to walk deliberately through the forest or nature to fully engage the senses. It is supposed to help refresh the mind. Helen takes the time out of her busy schedule to do this whenever she can.

The need to clear the mind and senses doesn’t need to be done in the forest if one is not nearby either. A walk through a local park or trail works wonderfully. Or a long swim in a favorite nearby body of water. Some people enjoy standing under running water like a waterfall or just in the shower to relax. One doesn’t need to do anything in nature to clear the mind and relax either. Someone might enjoy Kickboxing as a way to clear the mind. Tai chi or yoga could be another alternative to calm the mind.

Some workplaces have been integrating quiet rooms or relaxation rooms for employees to use when they are feeling stressed at work. Some things in a relaxation room could be lots of pillows, soft blankets, aromatherapy candles or diffusers. Including yoga balls and yoga mats is another thing they are doing so people can meditate.

Another practice that Helen Lee Schifter does is the Japanese tea ceremony. Helen does “picnic” Chanoyu which is performed outdoors, in a garden or park. All the tea utensils, tea powder(usucha), and sometimes sweets are placed in a wood or lacquer box. During the ceremony the box is opened and each piece is revealed in a sequence. The tea is then made and served and then the sequence is reversed to put everything back in the box.

Something like that can be very calming because everything is done in the exact same order every single time. The repetition can be very therapeutic for people. Other repetitive acts people find relaxing can be cleaning, organizing or just taking a long drive in a car. Coloring isn’t just for kids anymore either. There are more and more adult coloring books with varying levels of intricacy from simple shapes and cartoon-ish designs to very detailed pictures or mandalas even.

Whatever is relaxing for one person may not be relaxing for another. Just remember that everyone can be under some sort of stress and not be showing it on the outside. Bringing up some of these relaxation tips in the workplace would be beneficial for a lot of people in the long run. Mental health is not something to take lightly. Everyone needs help sometimes and there’s nothing wrong with that.