Many people enjoy massage as a way of relaxing and calming their minds. As massage is not possible in the current conditions , it is worth bearing in mind that there are ways to help you to relax and unwind. Here is an example of a relaxation method to help you cope with some of the stress you may be experiencing. I do hope it helps in some way Planned relaxation calms anxiety and helps your body and mind recover from everyday rush and stress. Music, a long soak in the bath, or a walk in the park do the trick for some people, but for others it’s not so easy. If you feel you need help with learning to relax, try a relaxation or meditation class. Your GP and local library will have information about these. Choose a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. Before you start, do a few gentle stretching exercises to relieve muscular tension. Make yourself comfortable, either sitting or lying down. Start to breathe slowly and deeply, in a calm and effortless way. Gently tense, then relax, each part of your body, starting with your feet and working your way up to your face and head. As you focus on each area, think of warmth, heaviness and relaxation. Push any distracting thoughts to the back of your mind; imagine them floating away. Don’t try to relax; simply let go of the tension in your muscles and allow them to become relaxed. Let your mind go empty. Some people find it helpful to visualise a calm, beautiful place such as a garden or meadow. Stay like this for about 20 minutes, then take some deep breaths and open your eyes, but stay sitting or lying for a few moments before you get

During these difficult and uncertain times, it is good to take a step back and think of how we can look after ourselves both physically and mentally. Obviously, massage is not possible at the moment, but we can take steps to cushion ourselves from the resulting feelings we experience while in lockdown Social distancing has a variety of effects on different people. The loss of physical touch can be distressing for some, isolation can have a negative effect on others and the unknown future affects us all One idea I have seen is , during the day when you are thinking of the things you would like to do but are unable to owing to the situation, write each one down on small piece of paper as you think of ideas and put each one in a jar or box. Adding to it as and when you think of something. Be it visiting a friend, or a trip to the coast or even a small party with family. When this turbulence has passed, take one of the pieces of paper out of the jar or box and plan to enact it. This gives a sense of purpose and a vision of the future which will help us through these dark times Give it a try. It certainly gives you something to hold on to and look forward to ( I will not take credit for thinking this up but felt it was a good way to plan for the future and worth sharing)

I was listening to the radio last week and heard an interview with the Dr Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson. He has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. What struck me was his attitude to his life and what he intends to do before the end comes.

But the thing that stood out for me was when he said the following

“The things that used to bring me down, or worry me, or annoy me, they don’t matter anymore – and that’s when you sit thinking ‘Wow, why didn’t I work this out before? Why didn’t I work out before that it’s just the moment you’re in that matters?’

“Worrying about the future or regretting the past is just a foolish waste of time. Of course we can’t all be threatened with imminent death, but it probably takes that to knock a bit of sense into our heads.”

I am sure we have heard people say things like ‘try not to worry’ or ‘it could be worse’ when we are faced with a difficult situation but it is a lot easier said then done.

It may be worth remembering Wilko Johnson’s words. We can worry about what we might have said or done in the past, or what we have to do in the future but all this does is stop us living in the now. Take a moment to think of all the good things in your life at this time and allow yourself to smile about them. They are precious gifts and we should accept them gracefully and keep them safe.

Yesterday I was looking for some batteries in a drawer at home and I started to remember how we used to have an old sideboard at home when I was a kid.

It was one of those old fashioned chunky oak things (the sort you see on antiques roadshow now!). Mum and Dad used to put things away in a ‘safe place’, “because you never know when it might come in handy” mum always used to say.

This sideboard had 2 drawers and 2 doors. Things used to spring out of the drawers when you opened them because there was so much in them. As for the cupboard doors…

On wet days, or when we were fed up, I remember how my brother and sisters used to explore this sideboard. We would tell Mum that we wanted to ‘sort out the rubbish’ and would start to empty the first drawer out on to the carpet. There we would find all kind of ‘treasures’. There was usually at least 2 packs of playing cards in various states of packaging. One of us would have the job of counting the packs to see what was missing. This inevitably led on to at least one game of snap or pairs. Then we would find an assortment of old keys. These we would divide up between us and go about the house to see which lock they fitted. All the while, the pile of drawer contents was still in the middle of the sitting room floor.

We would then come back and look at the photo’s, laughing at the hairstyles and wondering who some of the people were. Mum would ask if we were done yet and we would always say “nearly”

After a while we would decide there were other things that could occupy our minds and tip everything back into the drawer. Slightly tidier then we started, that way it looked as though we had done something.

The reason I mention this, is because there are many treasures in our lives we take for granted or forget they are there. Simple things that make us smile or lose ourselves in fun activity. These things help us to take our minds off our problems, even if it is for a short while. This in turn can reduce the level of stress we are feeling.

In modern homes the sideboard as I remember it has long gone, but it might be worth thinking about having your own little treasure box that you can drop the odd item in to keep it in a ‘safe place’. That way next time you are low or feeling pressured you can have a delve in your own ‘treasure box’

See how many times it makes you smile.