Reducing stress and finding peace
Finding peace during the festivities to refuel
As we head toward the festive season, it may seem obvious that taking a break from work will help you relax and de-stress. But in today’s fast-paced world, it’s actually much more important for your health than you may think. In fact, research has shown that taking at least three weeks’ holiday each year can increase your life expectancy significantly.
Take some time out
Taking time off work doesn’t necessarily mean you need to go on a vacation. Staycations are also becoming popular in the UK, so if you can’t face going away, simply stay at home and take some time out of your busy schedule to rest your mind, body and soul.
Switch off your screens for a while, and take a break from your regular responsibilities, such as cooking or cleaning the house. Don’t fret about your diet, or for that matter, your exercise regime. We all know physical exercise puts a certain amount of strain on the body, so in order to achieve the desired results, it’s important to allow your muscles time to adapt and recover from regular workouts.
And while the Christmas break is an ideal time for seeing friends and family, it’s important to make sure you don’t completely overbook yourself with social engagements (something I have to constantly remind myself) as this will only re-ignite the stress levels.
At mytime, we’re also conscious of how important it is to take a break from our busy lives – both physically and emotionally – and completely recharge the batteries.
A typical day at mytime
For me personally, being a Pilates instructor is so much more than simply ‘teaching’. From a physical perspective, my day is filled with preparing for classes, delivering classes, keeping on top of business admin and client communications; and then of course ensuring the studio is in tip-top condition at all times.
And then comes the emotional element, which involves making sure staff and clients are happy at all times. I’m fortunate enough in my role to be able to build strong relationships with clients, and I often find a key part of this role – especially in small classes or one-to-one sessions – is simply to listen, absorb emotions and empathies. At mytime we go the extra mile to help clients in every way possible, which naturally requires a lot of energy and emotional reserve.
Part of what makes us so special is that as we are constantly learning and evolving as teachers and communicators, which means that we never really ‘rest’ during term time. We’re continually sharing our knowledge and attending workshops to increase that knowledge. Client feedback keeps the momentum going, and the small touches, such as comments after a class or emails, really motivate us to get better and better at what we do. And that’s all on top of our busy home lives… but we wouldn’t have it any other way.
‘Me time’ for mytime
Many of you will know our mantra, “Restore, Revive, Regenerate”, and that’s exactly what we’re hoping to achieve as we take a break this Christmas. Our studio will be closing from 20th December to 7th January, giving us all a chance to rest, reflect on the year’s activities, and refuel our energy for next term.
Remember, setting a decent amount of time aside to focus on yourself each year will not only help alleviate any immediate stresses, but it will bolster your health for the years ahead. So as we head towards the holidays, we hope you find your inner peace this Christmastime, and we look forward to seeing you – fully restored, revived and regenerated – in the New Year!