Talk With Someone You Trust
Talking with a trusted friend or loved one is one of the most effective ways to relax your mind. Whatever is bothering you, talking it through can help you process your feelings.
The support of loved ones who know you and want whats best for you can make all the difference. Your loved one might also provide helpful ideas to help you manage stress.
Give Yourself A Squeeze
You know how your cat will go all rigid for a second, tensing all those kitty muscles and then relaxing them? That looks kind of good, right? Well, you can try it too or a version of it anyway.
Progressive relaxation involves tensing and releasing muscles, body part by body part. You may not have time to do your whole frame in five minutes, but just arms, shoulders, neck, and head will suffice.
Write A Journal Entry About Your Day
Take a few minutes before you go to bed to write down the most important things that happened in your day. In addition to helping you to clarify your feelings about the events of your day this will also provide a great reference to help give you an overview of how your life is progressing.
Give yourself the opportunity to vent every night before going to bed. If your thoughts and feelings of the day always surface before you go to sleep, use your journal and pen as an outlet. If you need writing prompts, try a mindfulness journal.
Write about your thoughts and what happened. Try to give yourself some closure every night so that the mind isnt keeping you up.
You May Like: Most Effective Mental Health Treatment
Burn Scented Candles To Relax
A warm, flickering flame and pleasant aroma in the air set a soothing atmosphere perfect for easing any frazzled nerves. So pick a scent you adore whether it be floral fragrances like lavender or more sweet ones like caramel and light it up once youre done with responsibilities for the day.
I usually buy my candles from Bath and Body Works, where they sell a wide range of unique scents such as Champagne Toast and Bergamot Waters. They also release seasonal candles with limited-edition scents, so check out the stores at different times of the year for special aromas.
Other than big brands like Bath and Body Works or Yankee Candle, you can support local artisanal shops that sell their products online or at pop-ups. These include @27candlesco and @ByTee& Co. Candles sold by these small business owners are decorated with pretty ornaments like flower petals and gemstones.
Once Youve Identified Your Go
Whether it’s a walk in the park, a luxurious bath with a book and a beverage, a little self-love, or rewatching your favorite rom-coms, it’s all about scheduling an unbreakable appointment with yourself.
“I tell women to look for small opportunities for relaxation. Fifteen minutes at lunch, an hour before bedtime, a few hours on the weekend,” Kaplin says. “Itâs the ‘pay ourselves first’ concept. If we relax and take care of ourselves first, the rest will easily fall into place. If not, we wonât show up the way we want to, and we will never feel rested.”
For more ways to live your best life plus all things Oprah,
Read Also: The Mindful Athlete Secrets To Pure Performance
How To Relax More
Youll feel the most benefits from relaxation when you incorporate it into a regular wellness routine. Here are a few ways to do that:
Eat Your Way To Less Stress
Opening a bottle of merlot is a popular way to loosen up, but a longer-term strategy starts with your plate, not your wine glass. “The first step for combating stress is to make sure you’re consuming a well-balanced diet,” Gans says. “Complex carbohydrates, such as oatmeal, barley, and whole wheat pasta, and foods rich in antioxidants, omega-3s, and B vitamins have been shown to possibly have a calming effect.”
Also Check: The Mind Eraser Elitch Gardens
Some Ways To Relax Your Mind
When you think of relaxing your mind, you often think of things that have to do with the mind itself, finding quiet places, and ways to tune your mind into something other than the trials and tribulations of life. So the first tips we have for ways to relax your mind are going to center on the mind itself.
Relax Mentally And Emotionally
Your experience of stress involves your thoughts and emotions. You may think that you can’t adequately handle the stressors you’re facing , and experience fear . These can accompany and even perpetuate your stress response. Often, reexamining your thoughts can help you to relax emotionally.
You can better understand your thoughts and alter this cycle if you learn how to relax as you face your stressors. Techniques to achieve this include:
- Changing negative self-talk to positive
- Creating a gratitude list to gain strength from the blessings in your life
- Determining your cognitive distortions, such as all-or-nothing thinking, overgeneralizing, jumping to conclusions, focusing on the negative, labeling, and “should” statements, as well as how to correct them
- Engaging in daily spiritual practice to support your mental well-being
- Finding forms of creative expressionwhether it involves music, art, crafts, or even coloringthat will help you feel relaxed and happy
- Journaling to explore your experiences
- Learning how to reframe thoughts so that the way you perceive potential stressors in your life is less stressful
- Working to develop greater optimism
Incorporating stress relief strategies such as mindfulness, meditation, or yoga into your daily life can be helpful. Studies have found that practicing meditation is linked to decreased physical arousal, lower heart rate, reduced respiration, and lower overall stress levels.
Recommended Reading: Mental Health Facilities San Diego
Even A Short Yoga Session Will Relax Your Body And Mind
Yoga is thought to help with everything from digestion to addiction recovery, and taking a classâor just breathing through some poses for a few minutesâcan put you in a more relaxed mood.
“Any amount of practice will make a difference,” says Keri Gans, registered dietitian nutritionist and yoga instructor. “The last thing you want to do is stress about how often you are going.” Gans recommends trying different styles of yoga, as well as various instructors, until you find what works for you. Look to high-rated YouTube channels, or apps like 5 Minute Yoga.
Bury Yourself Under Blankets
We believe that there is no place like bed! We all love to get cozy under a pile blankets.When you arrive home after work, you can do that alone or with someone you love, instead of going to sit in the living room, in front of a TV. That will make you feel like you were a kid again! This is actually a positive feeling ingrained in every human being it reminds our subconscious of being in the womb. These childhood memories have the amazing power of calm us down.
Don’t Miss: Drug Addiction On The Brain
Learn To Breathe Better
Most of us take our breath for granted. We believe that because our lungs function all the time, without us having to tell them what to do, they must be doing what they’re supposed to and require no improvement. However, this is not true. There are actually good ways to breathe and bad ways to breathe.
For example, did you know that most people breathe far too shallowly?
Indeed, many people breathe only the air that resides at the top of their lungs. This causes short, weak breaths that tire you out, and it causes stale air to be left in the bottom of your lungs.
To see if you do this, place one hand on your stomach and the other hand on your chest. Breathe normally. Do you feel the hand on your stomach rise as you inhale, or do you feel the hand on your chest rise? If you are feeling the hand on your chest rise as you exhale, this means that you are a shallow breather. Ideally, you should take your breaths much further down, gathering up all of the air from your lungs, starting at the bottom. To know if you’re doing it right, as you inhale, you should feel the hand on your stomach rising, and the hand on your chest should hardly move.
Breathing exercises are often one of the most useful techniques for relaxing the mind. There are numerous different breathing exercises to choose from. Heres one to get you started:
Repeat this exercise for five to ten minutes or for as long as you please to help relax the mind.
Focus On Something You Can Control
Letting go of what you cant control is one of the best things you can do for your soul. You can do this by focusing on what you can control, including things like decluttering your space.
Even better, try listening to music while you declutter or organize things. Theres no reason not to combine forms of relaxation.
Also Check: Homes For Mentally Ill Adults
Learn How To Meditate
Meditation benefits are manifold and can be felt both physically and mentally. Many studies conducted that meditation has fantastic effects on stress relief, mental health, and even blood pressure control.
There are numerous ways to use meditation to reduce stress and anxiety, feel calmer and even address depression symptoms. But while meditation comes in many forms, at its core, it is the practice of training your awareness and honing your attention.
Visualization meditation is an excellent place to start if youre new. Just as famous athletes practice visualization before the big game to play to the best of their abilities, you can practice calming visualization meditation to help you stay relaxed or relieve anxiety.
Follow these steps to engage in basic visualization practice:
Continue like this every time you experience an extraneous thought until your alarm sounds. Then, slowly release the picture youve visualized. Before you get up, take just a few minutes to exit the meditative state.
Getting into a meditative state will be a swift and easy process for you with regular practice. You will feel less physical tension in your body as you dive deeper into the practice.
Ways To Relax Your Body
Although it may sound counterintuitive, sometimes it works best to focus on calming your body even when your goal is to calm your mind.
Chances are that once your body feels relaxed, your mind will follow. When your body relaxes, you enjoy a slew of health benefits. In a relaxed body, heart rate slows, blood pressure levels out, and muscles loosen .
Practicing regular relaxation techniques may provide you with a boosted immune system and improved sleep. Plus, you may experience a decrease in gastrointestinal problems as you incorporate more relaxation into your days.
Were all a little different, and there are as many ways to relax as there are people in the world. So if one of the activities on this list doesnt help you wind down, dont be discouraged. Its a great idea to try a few different techniques and see what works best for you.
If you find yourself with a tight feeling in your chest, a clenched jaw, a tension headache, or shoulders up to your ears, take 10 minutes to try one of these techniques.
Practice Breathing Exercises
Many different deep breathing exercises can help you calm your nervous system, so try several to see which you prefer. One easy technique to start with is called box breathing. To do it, inhale to the count of four. Then, hold your breath for a count of four. Next, exhale to the count of four. And finally, hold for a count of four before inhaling again.
Get a Little Exercise
Take a Hot Bath
Go for a Walk in the Sunshine
Try Acupuncture
Recommended Reading: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Jobs
Reflect On Positive Events
Take 10-15 minutes to sit and reflect on happy events in your life or to count your blessings.
This kind of positive reflection has been shown to improve overall feelings of happiness and contentment.
Its one of the 12 elements of happiness, according to Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a happiness researcher who wrote the book, The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want.
Ten Activities To Give Your Brain A Break
With new headlines hitting the internet every hour, it can be hard to take a real break from everything that is happening. While it is good to stay informed and aware, it is also important to give your brain a break from all the stress.
First, know that the stress you are feeling right now is normal and you are not alone. However, reducing your stress is one of the most helpful things you can do to improve your physical and mental health. In addition to eating well, drinking enough water, and getting enough sleep, these activities are great ways to take a short mental break and get your mind away from the pandemic.
Don’t Miss: Mental Health Awareness In Schools
How Can I Stop Overthinking
To stop thinking so much, practice mindfulness meditation regularly. Ten minutes of meditation practice each day can make a difference in your focus and concentration, allowing you to shift your attention when you begin thinking about things you don’t want to ruminate on.
In some cases, distractions can be helpful as well. Just be sure to choose healthy distractions, and dont rely on them to keep you from thinking about anything serious. Distractions can be helpful in specific situations when you simply cant get yourself to stop obsessing about something.
If, for example, you find that its difficult to stop thinking about a recent breakup, try distracting your thoughts by spending time with friends, volunteering, exercising, engaging in favorite hobbies, or developing new hobbies.
What Is The Best Way To Relax
The best way to relax is entirely personal and may depend on what you are currently dealing with in your life. Try out a few of the different techniques for your mind and body and see what you enjoy most. Sticking to a technique consistently will help you reap the benefits and help you truly find what the best way to relax for you is.
You May Like: Department Of Mental Health And Addiction Services
Take A Break From Your To
Sometimes the best way to relax your body is to take a break from your tasks. Life gets busy, and caring for yourself is hard if youre always on the move.
Consider taking some time to do things you enjoy, like reading a book or taking a bath. You might do some gardening, go for a walk, or do anything else that helps you destress.
Just Relax The Difference Between A Stressed And Relaxed Mind
Living in this world can be a highly anxiety-inducing way of life. Our brains need times of quiet and relaxation to restore their energy and functionality. Being on high alert at all times doesn’t allow it the time to do that, and this leads to a lack of focus, health issues like heart problems and stomach issues, as well as mental health ones.
Recommended Reading: Brain Damage At Birth From Lack Of Oxygen
Color In An Adult Coloring Book
Adult coloring books have become the latest stress-relieving tool that helps us take our minds off of our problems and worries.
As you focus on coloring the intricate designs and staying within the lines, you become immersed in the activity and feel calm but energized.
There are so many beautiful adult coloring books to choose from based on your interests and goals with coloring.
Learning How To Relax And Manage Stress With Primed Mind
When you dont make relaxation part of your self-care routine, your performance and well-being suffer. Luckily, there are countless ways to calm down and chill out. For a daily go-to dose of relaxation, try Primed Mind. We make rapid relaxation available to you wherever you are, with sessions that help you unwind and let go of stress and anxiety. Check out Primed Mind today to say goodbye to stress and hello to relaxation.
Primed Mind
Don’t Miss: Center For Mindfulness And Compassion
Blogs > Meditation & Mindfulness
Primed Mind
Relaxation seems like it should come easily to us, but the reality is that it can be hard to let go and loosen up. Especially for high performers, relaxation can feel incredibly challenging. Yet, those of us who are constantly on the go are the ones who need to relax the most. In fact, if you dont take time to decompress and practice self-care, youre at risk for burnout and a host of physical and mental health issues down the road.
But how do you relax? There are a whole host of relaxation exercises that can help even the most stressed-out people calm down and release tension. With that in mind, lets learn how to relax!
