Imagine you are in a relaxing place.

When you do, your body thinks you are in that place.

And it relaxes as if you are in that place.

#usingimagination2relax #how2relax When you rush and think or say out loud, "I've got to hurry," your body releases a surge of adrenaline to help you run—something we haven’t really needed since our cave-dwelling days. But since you’re not actually running, you don’t need that burst, and it can leave you feeling irritable or anxious. The body’s main way of helping in these moments is by triggering adrenaline, responding to your thoughts as if they’re literal and happening right now.

Another side effect of adrenaline is that it impairs your thinking. Because it has to take from somewhere, the brain donates its thinking to give you more energy to physically get you there. The goal is to keep your adrenaline off unless you are in a life-threatening situation.

You don't have to wait until you have a moment by yourself; use a moment in your car when you are stuck in traffic or standing in line at the grocery store. Take some relaxing breaths. Breathe in deep from your abdomen, out through your mouth. Breathe in good energy, breathe out stress. Tell your body to relax. The more you do it, the more you will benefit from it.

If you are in the car with your kids, have them do it too! If you are a teacher, do it with your classroom. Children are great at imagining, so teach them early how to use their imagination to relax.

Take 3 minutes and relax with John Lennon singing Imagine.