PJEndicott

Five minutes for me!
We all lead busy lives and often rush from home to work or to social events on an almost non-stop basis. This is an exercise is taking just five minutes for yourself each day. It is designed to become a buffer between work and home that you can use to 'switch off' the problems of the day before reaching home. It is very simple to put into practice but does require a little imagination and a lot of determination to set aside just five minutes for yourself each day.

Choose a different way of spending your five minutes each day, or do the same thing - the choice is yours but a few simple rules apply:

• You must be alone to concentrate on enjoying your five minutes - hearing 'Mum!' or 'Dad!' every two minutes does not allow this to happen.
• You need to actively participate in your five minutes; if you choose to listen to music then listen actively, don't allow your mind to wander to thoughts of the day just gone or the day to come, or to what others have said or done.
• Choose an activity that will act as both a bridge and a barrier between the day so far and the day to come. For example, I often stop in the country when driving home at the end of the day and listen to the birds singing or just enjoy the view. Stopping off in this way creates a short break and provides a totally different pastime between what went before and how I will spend my evening.
• The activity must be sufficiently different to your day to elicit a feeling of calm, rest and wellbeing afterwards.

The possibilities are endless and might include:

• Listening to the radio - but remember to listen to the presenter and not to let your mind wander to your own thoughts and experiences!a friend on the phone and chat for a few minutes. When under too much pressure or stress, our friendships are the first thing to suffer and fall by the wayside.a book.
• Reading a novel.hopscotch!yourself to do a crossword or the soduko.to your pet. Pets are wonderful companions and often welcome five minutes of fuss providing you are thinking only about them, let your mind wander and they will sense it! Studies have shown that stroking cats and dogs can reduce anxiety and lower blood pressure.
• Looking at your holiday photos, sit back, close your eyes and imagine yourself back there for five minutes.
• Keeping a camera in the car or in your handbag or briefcase and take a photo each day.