Busy-ness is the trend these days. People carry over-packed schedules like winning trophies. “I’m SO busy at work!” “How do you have time to do that? I’m too busy to read/watch TV/exercise/do anything fun.” “I can’t get monthly massages I have too much to DO!”

Too much “busy” could be making you tired, sick, and probably cranky.

When do you relax? RELAX. “Relaxation” is a word we hear often, but don’t know always know what it means. Here, I’ve compiled some options for you.

re·lax  verb \ri-ˈlaks\

1: the state of being free from tension or anxiety.
2: a way to rest and enjoy yourself
3: recreation or rest, especially after a period of work.
4: the loss of tension in a part of the body, especially in a muscle when it ceases to contract.
5: something that you do to stop feeling nervous, worried, etc.

More importantly, what does relaxation mean to you?
If you’re not a “hot bath and good book” kind of person, you probably cringe at Calgon commercials and spa photos of people with stones piled on their backs. But here’s the beauty: You can make your own definition of relaxation.

It’s your job to figure out what you enjoy doing, what makes you smile, and what makes you feel like you are a hundred miles from work or home jobs?

Then, make time for that.
You have a schedule. Write in special time for a hobby, a nap, massage, your favorite show, a weekend getaway, a new class, ANY thing you enjoy can be relaxing.

Need someone to give you a reason? Want permission? No you don't!
You are an adult. You no longer need a reason, nor must you wait for permission. Remember when you were little and all you wanted was to be an adult so you could have dessert for breakfast? News flash, you have made it. Start living the life your inner child dreamed, hoped, and fought for. Indulge yourself a little. Here are some ideas:

• Spend part of the day alone.
  
• Spend part of the day with your family, doing ONLY fun stuff.
  
• Meditate.
  
• Devote time to your hobby.
  
• Sleep in. Or get up extra early. Whichever excites you!
  
• Arrange for take-out or pre-cooked meals all day.
  
• Schedule a massage! Just click here!
  
• If you’ve always wanted a day to “not leave the house” today’s the day! Wake when you wish, eat when you’re hungry, stay in your jammies and read a book.
  

Taking care of you is important. And, self-care puts you in a better frame of mind to take care of the people who depend on you. So find the thing that mellows you out, and make it happen

It's February! We made it through the holidays just to get inundated with notions of chocolate, flowers, bling, and extravagant weekends in wine country to 'reconnect with the one you love'.

But what if we pass on the chocolate and Ziggy cards and approach the day (or the whole month!) with a focus on connecting with the people we care about. Not just your significant other, but your best friend that you never have a chance to talk to for more than 4 minutes before a baby demands attention. Or maybe your favorite uncle who was always quick with a lousy joke and equally fast in sneaking you a cookie when your mom wasn't looking.

Share some time with someone. Make a pedicure date with your best friend. If you can each bring along your favorite mom, aunt, extremely sweet older neighbor who watches out for your kids, even better.

If you can't set aside that much time with everyone's busy schedules, drop off a piece of cake from your favorite bakery. Or keep it crazy cost effective and have your kid finger-paint a very special valentine for their teacher.

Appreciate someone. Look your favorite dry cleaner/butcher/school bus driver right in the eye and say, "Thank you. I can't tell you how much I appreciate what you do for me. You make my life easier."

Drop an email to your kid's basketball coach and say, "Thank you. My kid loves playing basketball, and I really appreciate that you give your time to make that possible."

Massage someone. I know, this sounds weird, huh? I'm a massage therapist and I'm telling you to Do It Yourself. But massage doesn't have to be an hour long ordeal with fancy oils and a complicated routine.

Watch a video and treat your partner to a hand or foot massage. Grab this amazing book, A Modern Day Guide to Massage for Children, and learn how to massage your favorite little buddy.

Give the gift of massage. You can pick up a gift certificate right here http://bit.ly/1fPOZJM.

Bonus: Connect with YOU. Not everyone schedules regular massage, and that's okay. But if it's been awhile, maybe it's time to practice a little self-care and get yourself a massage, too. The best gift you can give the people you love is a happy, healthy you.

The New Year is somewhat of a clean slate. We start a new calendar, make resolutions, pop champagne, and a few days later, jump into a January of slightly elongating days with a fresh hope that this year we can begin again, and do it all better.

But wherever you go, there you are. Flipping a page on the calendar isn't going to dramatically alter our day-to-day habits. For the average person change happens incrementally, just a little at a time, with baby steps.

Here are some ideas, just a few little changes you can make to improve your health, life, and happiness over the next year.

Use your tools

You've probably got a computer and a smart phone. And I bet you spend plenty of time using them. But are you using them well?

A great grocery list app can reduce the number of trips you make to the store, and the amount of cash you spend on groceries. Mint is a fantastic money app to keep track of your cash, create (and stick to) a budget, and plan for the future. TripIt can keep your travel plans organized and makes it easy to share that info with the people who need to know. Doodle can help you easily schedule group meetings (or just dinner with friends). If you're balancing a family with multiple schedules, use Cozi to get everyone to the right place at the right time.

Taking full advantage of the technology at hand can actually simplify your life.

Say NO!

You've heard this before, no doubt. But this year actually do that. Your time and energy are valuable commodities, spend them carefully. If you have trouble saying no, practice it. Really. It helps to be prepared with a reply that is kind, but still conveys a firm, "No." You can find some ideas here.

Schedule regular massage
(you had to know that was coming)

Massage is known to reduce stress, alleviate pain, and enhance the quality of sleep. All good things. If you think you can't spare the time or funds for massage, consider this: what is it worth to give your family, friends, and coworkers a happier, more productive YOU? (A LOT. It's worth a lot.) Regular can mean weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Whatever works for you is just fine, but stick to it. After you get a massage, I'll always ask if you want to schedule your next appointment. Do it! You can call/text me now at 217-317-3426 or schedule online here www.escape-massage.com to get started.