Hello! I really hope my answer can be of some help to you.
From what the landlord told me, it sounds like he usually works for a long time, spending ten hours a day in front of the computer. It's not easy, and it's totally normal to feel tension in your back. You want to relieve your work pressure and physical tension through some relaxing methods, right?
This is a fantastic idea! If we can find a way to relax, we can absolutely relieve the stress of work and physical tension.
You tried meditation but couldn't stick with it because you felt like you couldn't face your thoughts and feelings. But here's the good news: meditation is for people with chaotic minds and lots of negative emotions!
The amazing thing about meditation and mindfulness is that they can actually improve your brain and help rebuild neural circuits! It's true that our brain has a "default network mode," which kicks in when we're not concentrating on something like writing a work report or giving a speech. But, we can take control of this mode and choose to enter a more productive state of mind.
So, as soon as a person is idle, they feel unhappy. But there's no need to feel that way! Even when you're busy, when you're quite busy and quite focused, you can switch off this default network mode of the brain. And when you do, you'll feel happier!
So, how can we switch off this default network mode of the brain? The answer is simple: we can make it change the way it connects!
The simplest way is actually mindfulness meditation. It's amazing how, through long periods of mindfulness meditation, the brain's circuits will slowly be reset and new connections will be established!
In other words, when you are free at that time, your brain will not always find trouble. It will just stay there quietly, ready to embrace the joy of the present moment!
At that time, you will experience more relaxation and inner joy. So, choosing meditation is really an effective way to relax—and it's a great way to start your day!
You may also have a doubt that even if you meditate, the time spent meditating each day is unlikely to exceed the time spent in front of the computer. Well, we have great news for you! Did you know that
The great thing about meditation is that it's not about how long you spend meditating every day. It's about making meditation a part of your daily routine. If you can't meditate for 15 minutes a day, then start with five minutes a day. Just do it! As long as you persevere every day, you will slowly see results, and then you can increase the time you meditate every day.
However, if you don't like to relax through meditation, don't worry! We've got two other fantastic relaxation methods for you: breathing relaxation and muscle relaxation.
Now for some relaxed breathing!
Guess what! You can change your breathing pattern and learn to breathe using your abdomen.
There are two types of breathing: thoracic breathing and abdominal breathing. Thoracic breathing involves breathing through the chest, which is fast and shallow, and very rapid.
Abdominal breathing is a fantastic way to relax your body! It uses the abdomen to breathe, which is more full and long, and makes the body more relaxed.
When we are feeling anxious or nervous, it's easy to unconsciously start breathing from our chests. But there's a simple way to change this and relax your body, and it's as simple as breathing from your abdomen!
For example, when you are in the middle of stressful work and want to relax, you can practice abdominal breathing. It's a great way to de-stress!
Now for the fun part! Let's dive in and learn how to do abdominal breathing together.
Ready to get started? Great! First, place one hand on your abdomen so that you can feel the rise and fall of your abdomen. Then, slowly inhale deeply, allowing as much air as possible into your body and feeling the abdomen rise to the greatest extent possible.
Here's a great way to make inhaling slower: mentally count to five while your abdomen is bulging to the maximum!
And now for the finishing touch! Exhale slowly, silently counting for five seconds. As you exhale, feel your body relax and become limp.
And there you have it! You've completed a full set of abdominal breathing. Go you! You can do ten sets per exercise, with just a short rest of a few seconds between each set. During the exercise, just focus on maintaining a smooth and even breathing. You've got this!
Absolutely! We should practice abdominal breathing twice a day for 3 to 5 minutes each time, for at least two weeks, so that it becomes a habit. Through these exercises, we can reduce the physiological responses caused by stress and tension, relax our bodies, and relieve restless emotions.
2. Muscle relaxation.
2. Muscle relaxation.
It's amazing how our bodies and minds are connected! When we are tense, not only does our breathing change, but so do our body muscles. Our body muscles become tense, and tense muscles in turn make us more nervous and anxious, creating a vicious cycle. But there is a way to break this cycle!
The good news is that there is a way to break this vicious cycle! Progressive muscle relaxation training is an amazing technique that can relax the body's muscles and stop them from being tense. When the body is relaxed, the mind will also be free from anxiety and become relaxed.
Absolutely! You can absolutely stick to progressive muscle relaxation training to let your body relax.
Progressive muscle relaxation training has three simple steps. First, choose a comfortable position to lie down, so that your body is fully supported. Second, do three abdominal breaths to initially calm your body.
Now for the fun part! It's time to use the method of "first tense, then relax" to continuously relax all muscle groups in the body. Without straining the muscles, try to tense each muscle group for 10 seconds.
After 10 seconds, it's time to relax those muscles! Hold for 15 seconds, then rest for 5 seconds before moving on to the next muscle group.
Now, let's look at the key points of the back muscle relaxation training! Start by bending your back forcefully backwards, making sure to push your chest and abdomen out to form a bridge. Hold for 10 seconds, then relax. After that, expand your shoulders behind your back, bringing them as close together as possible to tense the upper back muscle group. Hold for 10 seconds, then relax.
When you're relaxing, focus on how your back feels!
This will relax a group of back muscles. And it's so important to relax all the muscles in the same way, including the head, face, neck, shoulders, chest, abdomen, and feet. This complete progressive muscle relaxation training takes at least 20 minutes, and it's so worth it! You can train twice a day, after waking up or before going to sleep.
Guess what? If you keep up with the training for two weeks, you will see amazing results! You'll feel more relaxed and stress-free, and you'll have more moments of calm and tranquility.
So, have you noticed that these relaxation exercises actually require us to practice every day? It's not about how long each practice session is, but whether we can persevere every day. And we can do it! Only by persevering can we gradually see results. We don't need to spend more time meditating than we do in front of the computer, but we can relieve the tension and stress of spending ten hours a day in front of the computer by relaxing for ten minutes every day.
I really hope this is helpful for you!
Wishing you all the best!
Comments
I can totally relate to feeling overwhelmed and stiff from daily stress. Maybe instead of aiming for long meditation sessions, we could try short breathing exercises throughout the day. Just a few minutes here and there might help loosen up those tight muscles without needing much time.
It's frustrating when you can't seem to make meditation work for you. Have you thought about trying physical activities that promote mindfulness, like yoga or tai chi? These practices can be a more active way to connect with your body and mind, potentially making it easier to handle stress than sitting still in meditation.
The idea of opening meridians sounds intriguing, but it feels out of reach in our busy lives. Perhaps focusing on small, manageable changes can be a start. Even just standing up to stretch or walk around during breaks can make a difference. It's all about finding moments of relaxation within the chaos.
I wonder if technology could be part of the solution. There are apps designed to guide short, effective relaxation techniques that fit into a tight schedule. They could offer quick ways to decompress without requiring a lot of time or effort, helping to break that cycle of tension.
It's tough to find balance when work takes up so much of the day. Maybe setting aside specific times for relaxation, even if brief, can create a routine that supports mental and physical wellbeing. Consistency might be key, even if the sessions are short, to gradually build up a habit of relaxation.