A Top Ten List on How NOT to Relax

You see them all the time, articles and lists on how to relax. Do you ever wonder? Like, tonight… I mean this morning at 1:48 a.m. PST. I find myself wondering, “With so many “how to relax” tips out there, shouldn’t we be the most relaxed people out there?”

“Should,” now isn’t that a powerful word?

In an effort to combat bad or useless information, here is my own list of things ten things one should NOT do if one intends to seek some level of relaxation.

1. Think. That is why I am writing this post in the first place. My mind. Who knew it’d be such a burden to have a brain that functions, like a machine. Stop laughing. It’s almost 2 in the morning.
2. Host back-to-back sleepovers. This is a SURE FIRE relaxation fail. *eyes go wonky*
3. Have hope. Sorry. I may need to smack my internal pessimist. I try to keep her bound and gagged, but she’s a sneaky one. I’m kidding about this one. Kind-of. This represents a bit of a struggle I am dealing with lately.
4. Worry. Yeah, that’s a relaxation killer if I ever saw one. This one is actually closely tied to #1. And also #4.
5. Make a top ten list when you only really have 4 things. Yeah. Not a great plan. Not at all.
6. Something else that does not help one relax is children. Unless they are sleeping. But then they are just recharging, so…
7. This next one is a double-bind – coffee. We LOVE coffee! But at 11 at night, not so much. I know, I know. “DECAF” you proclaim. You make a good point, but no. Coffee is meant to served in it’s purest state, with frothy milk and chocolate syrup.
8. Comparing oneself. Just don’t do it. You are good enough, you are smart enough… and you are simply mahvelous! Stop checking out the bodies, budgets, homes and cars of other people. Apples and oranges, my friends… apples and oranges…
9. Expecting to shower everyday. Yes, it’s nice. A show IS relaxing. But to put the pressure on can make a once potentially relaxing expereince more of a chore. Let a relaxation “ideal” go once in awhile. If it’s pressure, it’s not relaxation.
10. ????? What say you? I have hogged up 9 places with my opinion. How about you? What is a way you don’t relax?

That just feels wrong to ask. But I’m going with it.

photo credit: Jenny On The Spot

Jenny Ingram is the mother of three children (ages 4, 7 and 10) and lives near Seattle in Washington state. She loves writing here at Type-A Mom, for her own blog (Jenny On The Spot), and has a passion for encouraging moms in this journey…for she has been encouraged. You can also find her on Twitter!

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