Do you find yourself rushing all day, hoping to save some time at the end of the day in which to relax? Only to find that the time you “saved” by rushing wasn’t to be found later on? Perhaps your day is filled with “must do or else” activities that make it difficult for you to find time to slow down and take care of yourself.

1. Is relaxation time impossible for you to find?
Do you find yourself rushing all day, hoping to save some time at the
end of the day in which to relax? Only to find that the time you “saved”
by rushing wasn’t to be found later on? Perhaps your day is filled with
“must do or else” activities that make it difficult for you to find time to
slow down and take care of yourself.Here’s an “Island of Peace” you
can find, even amidst that kind of chaos. Some time during your day,
you must be on the move – from the office to your car, from bus stop to
shop, from home to store. Why not use that time productively, not by
worrying (which is seldom productive) but by quieting your mind and
body.
Try using your travel time for this variation of a “Walking Meditation.” Here’s how it works:
Body awareness
Start by taking a few deep breaths. As you exhale, imagine that a shower of relaxing energy is pouring
down your body, from the crown of your head to your chest and shoulders, then flowing out of your
fingertips and toes, washing out all tension and care.
Walk mindfully, feeling your feet touch the ground and being aware of the powerful force rising through
your legs to your whole body.
If you are one who can imagine hearing music (or you have ear buds), walk in rhythm to a favorite piece
of music.
Mental awareness
Focus on your immediate environment rather than your hectic thoughts about the future or draining
thoughts about the past. Look for things to delight you that you might otherwise not have noticed: clouds
of an interesting shape, the tint of the sky, the way that leaves on a tree are a different color on the
underside, a delightful pet or child, an interesting person, a mellow, faded brick wall…. The list is
endless when you are truly looking at what is in front of you.
Just for a few minutes you can step outside of your overly-busy mind and experience the delight of
being truly in the present. You have experienced an “Island of Peace.”
You had to take this walk anyway. Why crowd it with stressful thoughts about things – telephone calls,
conversations, letters, projects – which you can’t do anything about while walking?
Notice how many occasions you have during the day to repeat this experience.
Then make sure you repeat it.
Lynette Crane, M.A.(Psychology) and Certified Life Coach,is a Minneapolis-based speaker, writer, and
coach. She has more than 30 years' experience in the field of stress management. She currently works
to provide stress and time pressure solutions to harried women, those women who seek "Islands of
Peace" in their overly-busy lives. Her talks to groups of what she calls "harried women" are receiving
rave reviews. Visit her website at http://www.creativelifechanges.com/ to see more in-depth articles and
to view her programs.