1. The importance of relaxing

Let’s look at an example

Diana: no time, no energy

Diana takes care of her husband Dan who has dementia. She feels increasingly tense.

A friend advises her to try to relax and not ask too much of herself. Diana tells her friend that she does not have the time or energy to relax. Her friend explains that there are ways to relax that do not take much time, and that relaxing might give Diana renewed energy that could help her get tasks done more easily.

Diana succeeds in relaxing

Diana decides to follow her friend’s advice and tries the breathing exercise her friend showed her.

When Diana sees her friend again she says: “Thank you for the good advice. Although I still have a lot to do, I feel less tense.” Diana decides to do the breathing exercise every time she is feeling tense.