National Relaxation Day is a holiday that has been celebrated since the turn of the 21st century and is observed every year on the 15th of August. It is a holiday on which people are encouraged to take a break from their hectic lives and enjoy some downtime. It is a day for people to get out and smell the proverbial roses and reduce their stress levels.

After all, stress is one of the leading causes of preventable death and disease, so it is important for people to give themselves a break from their day-to-day stressors. On this holiday, people are encouraged to engage in activities that will reinvigorate not only their bodies but also their minds.

Some of the things that people do on this holiday include taking the day off from work, going for a relaxing walk or hike, or even just spending a little bit of time vegging out on the couch in front of the television. No matter how you observe it, just be sure that you do it in a way that relaxes you and doesn’t contribute more stress to your life.

The History of National Relaxation Day

Although people didn’t really begin to celebrate National Relaxation Day until the turn of the century, it is a holiday that was allegedly invented in 1985 by a fourth-grade child named Sean Moeller.

However, the observance of this holiday didn’t really take off until after 2001, and that is why many people feel that this holiday was influenced by the British holiday known as Slacker’s Day—a holiday that was invented in the United Kingdom in 2001. This holiday isn’t just observed in the U.S. but is also observed all over the world now.

Amazing Facts About the Power of Relaxation

A lot of people, particularly those living in the U.S., are reluctant to take a day off of work to do absolutely nothing. That is because taking downtime is sometimes seen as being lazy or unambitious. However, nothing could be further from the truth.

Relaxation is a very important part of life and actually helps people to be more productive in the long run. To prove our point, we are going to list some of the most fascinating facts we have discovered as we researched National Relaxation Day.

Relaxation Can Lower Blood Pressure

One of the most interesting facts that we have learned is that relaxing on a regular basis can help lower blood pressure. A recent study showed that 64% of people who practiced meditation were able to lower their blood pressure enough after a three-month period that they were able to come off their blood pressure medications.

Relaxation Can Lead to Better Mental Health

A wide range of different scientific studies have all come to the same conclusion: regular relaxation can lead to better mental health and relieve the symptoms of stress-induced conditions. Conditions can include depression, anxiety, headaches, pain related to fibromyalgia, insomnia, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Relaxation Can Improve Memory

In 2010, a study came out that showed an understanding of the mechanism by which relaxation neurons in the brain come together to improve memory. This study concluded that clearer and more long-lasting memories are formed in a person’s brain when they are completely relaxed.

Relaxation Improves a Person’s Mood

Another study concluded that relaxation techniques such as meditation or Tai Chi could improve a person’s movement and can contribute to overall psychological well-being. Relaxation improves a person’s emotional state and that can lead to a better overall mood.

The Immune System Gets a Boost from Relaxation

It is also important to state that the immune system gets a much-needed boost from relaxation. This is because stress hormones interfere with the body’s ability to fight off infections, so taking some time to relax can help clear out those hormones and improve overall immune function.

Relaxation Improves Productivity

And the final point we would like to make is that people who relax regularly are more likely to be more productive. It might seem counterintuitive, but giving employees a little bit of extra downtime can help them get more work done in the long run.

Customs, Traditions, and Celebrations

This unofficial holiday is celebrated by different people in different ways. Some people spend the day lounging around the house, some may take relaxing morning walks, and some people may sleep in. However, that isn’t the only way to spend this important day.

Over the past few years, it has been suggested that not only should people relax on this day, but that they should also unplug from all of their electronic devices; devices such as tablets, cell phones, and computers, as well as the Internet.

According to Sean Moeller, this holiday should be observed by doing absolutely nothing for the entire day. It is not a day on which people try to catch up on their household chores while they are away from work.