We live in a world where people seem to compete to have the busiest lives and don’t like to say no when people ask them to do anything. We work, join clubs and teams, and also balance our family and home lives, but we don’t tend to relax much.
It’s no wonder people are under more stress today than ever before. There are articles all over the place about the many ways we can relax, but how do we make time to do them? This article is going to cover ten practical ways to take time out of your busy life and relax more often.
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Rely On Breathing Exercises:
Breathing exercises don’t take much time out of your day to complete. They are a fast and effective way to relax your body. You can do this while waiting in line, on your break at work or even while you are in the car driving.
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Create A Routine:
By setting up a routine where you can take even five or ten minutes before bed to stretch, do yoga, meditate or even write about your stresses in a journal you are going to feel more relaxed which will lead to you having a better sleep and feeling better rested in the morning.
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Focus On The Present Moment:
When you can be present in the moment you are about to reduce your stress levels and truly relax. Notice all of the little sounds and sights that are around you when you are going about your day instead of dwelling on the next thing on your to-do list.
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Find A Hobby:
If you are going to join a club or a team, choose one that is geared towards something that you already enjoy doing and relaxes you. It is great to learn to do new things, but there is a comfort that is found in finding people who also enjoy doing the things, you enjoy doing.
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Treat Yourself As You Treat Your Family:
Many people give and give and give to their families and forget to treat themselves with the same ideals. Instead, they tend to put their needs on the back burner and not indulge in self-care. When you treat yourself well, you are much better for everyone else in your life.
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Distract Yourself:
Read a book, or go out to a movie. These activities require you to pay attention, which will allow you not to think about all of your stresses for a while and get lost in an alternate plot. After the movie or book, you will find that you feel more relaxed and ready to take on your problems. Turn this into a weekly outing, or join a book club.
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Use Your Senses:
Your sense of smell is connected to the amount of stress you are feeling. Choose a scent such as rose, peppermint, or lavender and light a candle or use a nicely scented body lotion and give yourself a massage.
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Take A Real Break:
Don’t spend your lunch hour and your breaks at your desk, or even in your office. Instead, get out and take a short walk. Taking a walk and allowing your mind to focus on other things is a great way to reset your mind and forget about your stresses.
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Visualize:
When you need to relax, and you can’t get away, close your eyes and imagine you are somewhere else. Imagine a beach with waves crashing. Be as detailed as you can in your visualization and before you know it, you will find yourself relaxing as if you are there.
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Find What Works Best For You:
Everyone is different, what allows your friends to relax may not be what leads you to feel relaxed. Experiment with some different relaxation techniques and figure out what makes you feel the best.
As you can see, there are many different things you can do during the day to help yourself relax. Relaxing doesn’t need a huge chunk of time carved out of your day to be effective. Using the tips above you are going to be able to bring relaxation into your daily life and feel less stressed out almost instantly.
Deika King, TND, MH, CCT, PSc.D
Traditional Doctor of Naturopathy
832-422-7271
