The Unwind Revolution
Everyday life is filled with intense pressure and overwhelming responsibility. You can get so lost in the busyness of the day that it feels non-stop, like there’s hardly a break or a moment to strip down and just be! Have you ever been told to unwind? Or have you ever said to yourself, “I just want/need to unwind”? Even if the answer is no, you have definitely heard the word ‘unwind’. But if you frequently feel irritated, fatigued, and mentally tired, it may be a sign that you need to take a step back and allow yourself some time to relax and rejuvenate. Unwinding is crucial for maintaining both your mental and physical well-being, helping to restore balance and improve your overall quality of life.
Unwinding is about relaxing, loosening up, and resting. To be able to do this, it takes pausing all activity and detaching from everything you ‘need to do’.
Research shows that relaxation significantly contributes to a healthier heart, less stress, reduced muscular tension, and improvement in brain functioning and memory.
Unwinding can also include engaging in pleasurable activities that refuel you with positive energy to continue with all the daily tasks required of you. In fact, that’s the role of dopamine, also known as the “feel-good” chemical, responsible for allowing you to feel pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation.
Moreover, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins are also brain chemicals which, when released, significantly reduce stress and enhance feelings of happiness, love, and pleasure. They are referred to as ‘happy hormones’. Endorphins, in particular, are activated by exercise and sex with natural opiate-like properties that can help to reduce pain and regulate mood. Research has shown that physical touch, such as caressing, hugging, and holding hands, can trigger oxytocin release. One study involving women found that more hugs with their romantic partner were associated with higher oxytocin levels
Unwinding is very much about doing the activities which release these chemicals, everybody needs moments of unwinding, especially when experiencing tiredness/fatigue, irritation or when there is constant activity with no rest. However there are specific activities which are personal to you and this can be figured out by filling in the blanks:
- I feel more relaxed when …………………………………………..
- I feel less stressed when ……………………………………………
- The things that make me laugh are ……………………………..
Filling in the blanks above may take some time, especially if you’ve never thought of such, but take your time and think, it is important that the answers come from within.
Unwinding is for everyone! — it is the moment, time and space where you neglect and detach from all pressure, expectation and responsibility! You first have to agree that unwinding is important to your holistic health. So take moments to slow down, de-stress, moments can last from 5 minutes to an hour. Remember it’s personal, so take off the mask and be your complete and total self — be who you are without the many hats you wear and different roles you fulfil.
