[CHAT] Relaxation
2014 was such a busy year for young people everywhere and it probably won’t change all that much in 2015. Our lives have become so jam packed with all sorts of responsibilities and commitments, we have so many things to do and places to be. While we’re so preoccupied with everything going on, it’s easy to forget to take time out for ourselves, to practice self-care so that we avoid burning out.
We’ve all been there. When you feel physically and mentally exhausted. Nothing seems to be going your way and you don’t have the strength to keep moving forward. At least that’s how it was for me. This year, there were just too many things happening at once. I was unsatisfied with my job, Uni assignments were pilling on, I was having relationship problems and because of a back injury I couldn’t even work out. I needed a way to reset. Some way I could refresh my mind and my body.
I had heard about a float tank from a podcast and after doing some research I thought this might really be able to help. Then I remembered hey… this looks familiar.
I really didn’t know what to expect from the experience. I had read about what it felt like to be in a float tank but to actually do it was… like nothing I’ve done before. Haven’t heard how it works? Basically, you jump into this tank and close the door, lying in water that is highly concentrated with Epsom salt allowing you to float effortlessly. The tank is big enough so that you’re able to lie comfortably with both your arms above your head. The water in the tank is heated to the same temperature as your skin, so after a while you begin to lose feeling of your body. After some time just breathing, relaxing and trying to let go you feel just that, no longer knowing where the edge of the tank is. For me it was like it was just my mind floating out in the open.
When you’re in the tank you realise just how active your brain is going and not in a good way. Depending on the person it could take longer for them to switch off. The float tank allows the logical side of your brain to shut off and your creative side to activate. In my deep relaxation I entered a dream-like state which must have been my own imagination coming out to play. When the music turned on, signalling that my one hour session was over, I got out of the tank and felt super relaxed. It didn’t even feel like an hour, my back felt better due to floating freely. As I left the float centre, I felt a new level of relaxation I had never reached before. It really felt like I was starting fresh. I was ready to take on tomorrow. And the float tank taught me many things about relaxation.
- Treat relaxation like an appointment with yourself and that you deserve this free time to relax. With that approach it makes the free time special, something to look forward to. You could be doing anything to relax; eating food, watching a movie, listening to some music.
- Remember to be creative. You need that balance between the two sides of your brain and be a little creative in how you relax. It doesn’t have to be extravagant; just listening to different genres of music, trying a new dessert recipe, read a book and exercise your imagination!
- Putting the phone away. It’s great to have constant updates from social media, but you’re not losing anything by being away from your phone so you can relax. This is especially the case if your phone is the source of your stress. Another way of looking at this is there could be so much going on in your life. It’s okay to step away from it for a while to relax.
- Be open minded. If I wasn’t open minded about the float tank I would have never tried it out and I wouldn’t learn these things. So when your friend says try eating a Splice ice cream in the shower after a night out, you never know they might be onto something!
- It’s worth the cost if it benefits you. When I’ve told people this story I’ve gotten responses like, “So you paid money to go lie in a tank for an hour?” You should never put a price on your wellbeing and it’s the same with relaxation.
Share your experiences with relaxation. Tell us what you did and how it helped you. Join us on the forum on Monday November 10th 8 pm AEDT. Hope to see you there!
Next question!
5. Like my story about the float tank, people sometimes use some pretty quirky relaxation methods. Do you do anything out of the ordinary when it comes time to relax?
I still think everyone should try this float tank at least once!!!! The deep relaxation is amazing, physically, emotionally and mentally!
Like my story about the float tank, people sometimes use some pretty quirky relaxation methods. Do you do anything out of the ordinary when it comes time to relax?
> I don't really have any quirky ways of relaxing. The closest that could probably be counted is exploring! I love finding new places out in different cities or in the countryside 
I just enjoy the adventure of it all.
When people tell you to chill out, it’s sometimes way easier said than done. What are some of the biggest obstacles you face when it comes to relaxation, and what can you do to overcome them?
I find it hard to relax when i have other responsibilities or other things to be done. It feels more like procrastinating than relaxing, but i always feel better off after chilling out- then i could tackle all the other responsibilities with a clear head
... it's when i relax and then don't tend to my responsibilities when the guilt and stress kicks in... 
Hello All!
Our ability to unwind can very much depend on environment. Where are some of the tranquil, peaceful places you like go to unwind?
My favourite places to go to unwind would definitely have to be the park and beach 
. Nothing better than reading a book and listening to some music at those places. As for indoors, the bathtub is my fav.
Hey @jvkn ! Welcome welcome!
Love bubble baths 
There's nothing more rewarding than sitting in bubbles and feeling amazing.
Hey! @jvkn
I don't go to parks very often anymore. But when I do I like walking barefooted on grass, something about it makes me feel connected with nature and it's a good change from walking on concrete all the time!
@jvkn HAHAHA YES! Welcome mate!
I also think looking at the stars is such a chillout technique. I recently went away for the weekend to this little shack by the beach and the ceiling was made of glass so you literally slept under the stars. IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
Hi everyone!
Welcome to tonight's Getting Real Session on the topic of relaxation 🙂 The final months of the year are always a really busy. Year 12s are currently doing their hsc exams (STRESS). University students also have exams (STRESS). In addition to all the other things we have to do such as work commitments (MORE STRESS), Xmas is around the corner that means xmas shopping, planning or attending parties! (EVEN MORE STRESS) Luckily, this is also the time of the year when we start to take time out to and unwind. But instead of only relaxing at the end of the year, why not make relaxation apart of your lifestyle?
Tonight our chat will be moderated by @Myvo , @Billy-RO and myself! As always we’d like to remind you to take a look at, and abide by the community guidelines – just so we can keep this safe and awesome as possible. But, if at anytime, you feel that you need to talk, please check out emergency help.
Okay let's get started!
1. We don’t just relax because it’s fun; there is actually a really strong connection between relaxation and our mental and physical health. So our first question is: What are the ways you relax?
Do you do anything out of the ordinary when it comes time to relax?
I don't think I do. Unless you guys found something weird about what I've already said. 🙂 But then again, I do find cooking to be relaxing. I remember my psychologist saying that cooking for other people stresses her out, but not me.
4. When people tell you to chill out, it’s sometimes way easier said than done. What are some of the biggest obstacles you face when it comes to relaxation, and what can you do to overcome them?
My anxiety! Hahaha. How stressed out I am about something. My environment, especially the hussle and bussle of a busy place, that does not help at all!
3. Our ability to unwind can very much depend on environment. Where are some of the tranquil, peaceful places you like go to unwind?
The beach, my lovely green garden, just walking around my suburb, it's nice and green and shady (as in tree coverings). 😉 Bush walking is also fun. Fishing with dad when I visit. 🙂 I also love visiting mountain streams.
2. Lots of people reckon music is a great way to relax. Is this true for you? What are you ultimate chillout songs?
To some extent this is true, but after a while, I started to get aggitated by the music. I love listening to soothing music, kind of like indie rock or even this weird cd I won in yr 6 for getting the music award.
1. We don’t just relax because it’s fun; there is actually a really strong connection between relaxation and our mental and physical health. So our first question is: What are the ways you relax?
There are so many different ways I relax! It could be a bubble bath, going for a walk, practicing mindfulness. hanging with friends, watching a movie/ tv, reading a book, but really the list is endless.
Hey everyone, sorry I'm late. But as the saying goes, better late than never!
Hey @stonepixie ! Welcome to our chat tonight!
Glad you could join us What are some obstacles that get in the way of your relaxation?
Welcome @stonepixie
A wizard is never late. He arrives precisely when he means too.
HAHA I just had to.
@stonepixie Definitely better late than never! Welcome to tonight's chat!
Hey everyone 🙂 looking forward to this chat. This is my relaxation after a busy first day doing work placement in child care!
What are the ways you relax?
The main ways I relax are: having a bath, going for a walk, listening to music, mindfulness meditation, drawing, writing, chatting with family or friends, surfing the net, and watching TV.
Lots of people reckon music is a great way to relax. Is this true for you? What are you ultimate chillout songs?
Oooh ultimate chill out songs, that is hard. At the moment I am loving Wah Ha by Lisa Mitchell and Boardwalks by Little May as a chill out songs, and Arithmetic by Brooke Fraser is an old favourite of mine that I used to listen to before bed. Music is definitely a great way to relax for me, be it by playing, singing or just listening.
I am so late to this I was caught up making a milo lol @delicatedreamer my partner has been playing boardwalks all the time, good song must say
@delicatedreamer I should check out these songs. Something tells me that we have a similar taste in music Also forgot to add Angus & Julia Stone! > <"
Hehe I think we might @Myvo ! I forgot about Angus and Julia Stone, they have some great relax tracks too (Hush springs to mind for me)
Our ability to unwind can very much depend on environment. Where are some of the tranquil, peaceful places you like go to unwind?
The beach!!! I live on the Coast and love going to the beach to sit (or even just drive past!) if I am stressed - combine that with listening to some tunes on my iPod and it's like relaxation heaven for me :). I also like walking to the creek near my house to chill as well. It's nice and quiet and there is nice woodlands around it that are very peaceful.
