Nathanimal’s Reviews > How to Relax > Status Update

Anything helpful so far? My issue with these sort of books is that the advice, inevitably, is: work less, eat better, sleep more, take moderate exercise. Great advice! But the difficulty is implementing it in this never-sleeping all-work society.

Hi, cardulelia!

Haha. When relaxing becomes just one more thing on your to-do list—ack!

This tiny book is helpful enough, I guess. It's focused on mindfulness, so there's a lot in there about noticing your breath and your body which at the moment I'm finding helpful. I tend to go at life like a squirrel with a nut that is actually rock painted to look like a nut but the squirrel is too focused on the nut to realize it's not a nut. Which is to say, I carry a lot of tension. I'm in the habit of ignoring it and that stuff catches up with you.

So, yes, it's helpful to me, who has never been into meditation and isn't really familiar with Eastern thought at all (though I did read the Tao Teh Ching a few weeks back and was into it) but it might not be all that revelatory to anyone who has actually meditated or done yoga or whatever.

Sleep, eating well, and exercise are great when you can get them.

I tend to go at life like a squirrel with a nut that is actually rock painted to look like a nut but the squirrel is too focused on the nut to realize it's not a nut. Which is to say, I carry a lot of tension.

ahahaha amazing. As someone who holds so much tension I've actually given myself a strained muscle from stress before.. I feel you.

I see what you're saying regarding mindfulness. imho meditation/mindfulness are another thing that is good, necessary even, to acknowledge and very hard to implement. Nevertheless, best of luck with your journey!

:-) Thank you.

Is there a chapter on hammock posture?

Yes, it says something like, In all cases notice the breath, unless you are in a hammock. If you are in a hammock don't breathe at all or move a muscle or you will be ejected.

Have you tried stimulating your vagus nerve? Very effective if you need to relax in a hurry. Can try the method where you run two fingers gently down from behind the ear to your neck or use head massage etc Lots of explanations online...

Alwynne wrote: "Have you tried stimulating your vagus nerve? Very effective if you need to relax in a hurry. Can try the method where you run two fingers gently down from behind the ear to your neck or use head ma..."

No I've never heard of that. I'll look into it. Thanks, Alwynne!