Relaxation

During lockdown this year, relaxing and being able to switch off from work has been important. But so has recognising when my brain is fried, when I need to take a break and when I need to come back to something later.

We hadn’t booked an Easter holiday (we were on the brink of booking one!) so used money we’d planned to put towards that towards a hot tub for our garden. And you know what? In the last 8 weeks thag we’ve owned it, we’ve definitely got our money’s worth. We use it every other day, the children love splashing around in the warm water, and it’s only on the really hot days (the number of which I can count on one hand!) that I’ve wished we had a paddling pool too.

This has been one of my ways of relaxing. It’s taken a while to get it just right for me, I’ve tried watching TV or a movie (not very easy!), read a book on my phone (OK but not the easiest and not a break from screen time either!), and found what works best is chilling out with headphones and Christian music. Just being able to sit, soak and worship in the hot tub (I’m not sure those words are used together too often?), has helped my emotional health and loosened the knots in my back an awful lot.

Another way I’ve enjoyed relaxing is taking quiet walks, again with headphones and Christian music, along to the docks near home. It’s only a short walk, but it’s enough to give my head some space and let me switch off from work. It’s beautiful watching the river, looking out to the Severn Bridges and soaking up the sun (when it’s out).

This has been, and will continue to be, an uncertain time for everyone and everything, but I try and find the positives in it all. I have found opportunities to relax in my own back garden, found walking paths on my doorstep, and I am so thankful for it all.