5 Ways to not feel Guilty when Relaxing

How many times have you associated relaxation with being lazy? Human beings tend to feel guilty when relaxing since it seems they don’t fill every instant of their day with something ‘productive’.  

This happens because we directly link our productivity to our self-worth. Taking some time for yourself to relax and unwind is actually more productive than being ‘too productive’. How ironic is that?  

This feeling is known as Productivity Guilt

How to avoid feeling guilty when relaxing

Productivity Guilt is the persistent feeling that we are not doing enough and the constant struggle to manage to relax the mind and body without criticizing our self of being lazy. Preventing productivity guilt is possible and below, you can find a few tips on how to not feel guilty when relaxing. 

1. Positive mindset. Don’t measure your productivity on each individual thing that you are ‘not doing’, but on what you have done and achieved. 
2. Plan and prioritise. Creating a strategy ahead of time is key to avoid getting overwhelmed and obsessing over every individual task. Writing down a to-do list the night before or first thing in the morning can help you visualise and prioritise. Don’t forget to plan some time where you do something for yourself and completely switch off. 
3. Learn to say ‘no’. Nowadays, we are programmed to say yes to everything, but this is not sustainable in the long-term. Overcommitment is a double-edge sword that can easily turn against you and set yourself up for failure. Make sure you are being honest with yourself and that you are not signing up for something that you can’t do. 
4. Accept that you are not perfect. The sooner you accept this, the better as this will help to decrease overt self-criticism, which is counterproductive and causes anxiety. 
5. Consider relaxation as a productive moment. As mentioned before, taking some time to relax and do something you enjoy is very productive because it will help alleviate stress and be focused later on.

These also help if you feel guilty when relaxing after a long day

Unwinding can be very difficult for some people, but this doesn’t mean that it is impossible. In fact, there are several things that can help you switch off, like taking deep breaths, getting outdoors, exercising, turning devices off, and listening to music whilst taking a bath. Essential oils, minerals, crystals, and active plant ingredients can be a great ally to achieving a calm mind and body.

Magnesium helps to relax muscles, ease nerve tension, and promote deep sleep. There is evidence that it also helps fight depression, prevent migraines, lower blood pressure, and boost exercise performance. 

Amethyst is a peaceful and relaxing crystal that contributes to calm the nerves and the mind. If you pair it with chamomile and lavender, its properties are intensified as is your relaxation. 

Petitgrain is an essential oil with multiple benefits and is derived from the bitter orange tree. It promotes relaxing feelings and protects against mental anguish, helps release anger, and is known to heal emotional wounds.

Blue Chamomile and Lavender are probably the most famous natural remedies used for relaxation. Blue Chamomile is known to be an oil of peace and acceptance that eases tension and clears both your mind and body. Lavender is a great relaxant and even one-off use can help relieve anxiety.  Both excellent ingredients to help you in times you feel guilty when relaxing. 

The natural ingredients listed above can be found in a selection of Ilāpothecary ‘calming & grounding’ products like the Magnesium and Amethyst Deep Relax Bath Soak, Calm Butterfly Soothing Balm, Keep Calm Hand & Body Lotion and the SOS Pearl Drops