We forget about ourselves, our partner, our family, and our friends. We lose the ability to pay attention, whether to each other or to ourselves. When we add to this the endless scrolling through social media in an attempt to get a quick dopamine fix, the last remnants of our mental capacity disappear. It's not indifference, it's pure exhaustion.
Not gifts, but presence
Attention does not require grand gestures. It is just a small thing that brings relief to you and others by simply being there.
- Turn off your cell phone and leave it in another room.
- Take an interest. A short conversation over a meal together that sums up everything important and gives both you and the other person the feeling that you care.
- A moment together—a movie, a favorite TV series, a reality show you both enjoy watching. Sometimes, just being there is enough.
But you come first in all of this
In order to be there for others and often give them energy, we need to be at ease ourselves. What does that mean? Something different for everyone.
When our mind is at rest, we have more patience
Even a brief moment of conscious silence helps. When our minds are at ease, we react more calmly and have more patience even in everyday situations.
What do we recommend?
👉 Why not combine pleasure with practicality, for example at the Salt Cave in Prešov.
👉 Want to transport yourself into a story that will captivate you? Only a good book can do that.
👉 Your mind rests where your body is under professional supervision. How about trying a new yoga class?
- TIP: Set a limit for various apps on your phone – for example, XY minutes per day. They will notify you when the time is up. Alternatively, try hiding the apps from the screen. When you don't see them, you won't be tempted to click on them.
When we move, we release tension
Sometimes even half an hour of exercise is enough to relax your body and mind so much that you don't have the energy to "think" anymore. Boxing is a great example of this. With each punch, you can imagine that you are "boxing out" the worries that have accumulated during the day from your body and mind. It sounds simple, but it works.
What do we recommend?
👉 You can literally box away your worries – at a boxing class.
👉 Exercise to the rhythm of your favorite song or style of dance ? Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Feel free to bring your partner along.
👉 Online exercise is still popular, so how about an online training program with LIVE energy?
- TIP: Keep your hands busy, but not with your cell phone. It often happens that the first thing you grab when you're "bored" is your cell phone. How about picking up a book, newspaper, stress ball, or any kind of handiwork?
When we regenerate and relax, we are less tense and irritable
Unconscious muscle tension and awareness of this state is a step towards success. You immediately feel that you are on the right path to releasing overall tension. A massage, sauna, or any form of relaxation that suits you can help. Your head will certainly thank you.
What do we recommend?
👉 Allow yourself to let go of all your problems for a moment and focus on relaxing your muscles. With the help of a specific massage.
👉 Don't you feel better knowing that a specialist is looking at your back, neck, and cervical spine? Physical therapy can work wonders, especially when done regularly.
👉 Exercise can also release tension and calm your mind. Yoga or Pilates? Which appeals to you more?
- TIP: Can't switch off from work? Try adopting a mini ritual. For example, leave your laptop at work if possible. Before leaving, write down a list of tasks you need to do the next day so you don't have to think about them. Your mind will get used to having a fixed point from which it can then bounce off into the whirlwind of everyday personal life.
When we do something together, we enjoy time without distractions
The way your mind is guaranteed to switch off may not just be a moment alone. It can be a couple or group activity. This is already a form of paying attention to yourself and others. Just being together, putting away phones, turning off work email, and changing the environment.
What do we recommend?
👉 Whether in a couple or a group, any sport can also be fun. You just need to agree.
👉 Zľavomat is a great place to choose experiences. A dinner together, an adrenaline-filled experience, or a couples massage, for example. In the end, you may not even be able to choose.
👉 Get away for a while. Easy to say, harder to do. But with benefits, it's quick if you know where you want to go. Just choose according to your taste in the Travel section.
- TIP: Set a rule at home – mobile phones and tablets stay out of reach. In the bedroom, in the children's room, somewhere where you can hear them but don't have them in your hand. It will be uncomfortable for a while, but it can definitely be done.
Valentine's Day as attention training
It may sound like a cliché, but if you want to start with a small change, take advantage of this holiday. A gesture of attention does not have to be an expensive gift. It can be time spent together, leaving your cell phones in the hall and just being "here and now."
Being attentive can be learned
It's not a given; in this fast paced world, we have to learn it anew. We have to be aware of it. Let's say that not only we ourselves, but also those around us deserve our full presence. Let's give it to them, because relationships matter in the little things, not just in big gestures.
