by Shaheen Darr

Created on: July 27, 2008   Last Updated: June 08, 2009

After working through piles of paperwork to meet deadlines or standing on your feet the whole day without a break, the moment you come home you owe it to yourself to relax and reenergize that hard working mind and body. Even if it is for half an hour give yourself some time to literally 'feel human' again.

Take those shoes and that jacket off and if it has been a particularly exhausting day lie down for 20 minutes and shut your eyes. If you can manage some sleep, have a nap, otherwise just relax and listen to some relaxing music with an eye gel mask on. There are some good eye gel masks available, which can be applied either cold or slightly warm, and they help to relax eyes that have been in front of a computer all day or in dusty environments. In addition, they help reduce puffiness around the eyes and relieve stress headaches. Use relaxation CDs that enable you to switch off for half an hour and help you to feel energized, revitalized and more positive about yourself.

Make yourself a cup of tea, put your feet up on your favorite settee and relax in front of the television. If you are a fan of herbal teas there are several which offer great health benefits. Chamomile tea for example helps to relieve tension and lemon balm or lemon verbena teas are both refreshing and relaxing.

For some people doing a session of yoga or Pilates is a great way to stretch those muscles and bring a sense of well being to the mind and body. Yoga is a practice that helps to realign the mind, body and soul and after doing yoga asanas you feel at peace with yourself and with the world. Pilates is also a gentle form of exercise that helps to stretch the body, relax it and strengthen it in the process.

If you have a dog, go for a walk to the park. Walking reduces stress and tiredness and gives a sense of well being to the mind. In addition, it will strengthen your muscles and ligaments and both you and your pet will enjoy the benefit of it.

There is something therapeutic about cooking yourself a healthy meal, the chopping of the vegetables and putting ingredients together to create a meal that is both enjoyable and one that will help relax the mind and nourish the body.

Having a shower after a long day at work is wonderful to freshen and invigorate you. It is as if the whole days grime and tiredness just washes away with the water and you can face the rest of the day feeling good and smelling fresh. If you have a friend or partner at hand who can give you a massage to soothe away the tiredness then you are lucky, there is nothing like having a gentle soothing massage to make you feel rejuvenated and relaxed.

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