A few good relaxation techniques can save your life because stress is more than just unpleasant. It’s also dangerous to your health. Disciplined practices such as meditation can help relieve that stress, but what if you don’t have the time or motivation? Maybe you need to try a few of these simple ways to relax.
1. Hug someone. Giving a hug means getting one. As long as it’s from somebody, you don’t mind hugging you; this really can be relaxing.
2. Interrupt routines. Doing anything that breaks you out of your habitual patterns can relieve stress. Talk to that guy sleeping on the bench or eating lunch on the roof.
3. Have a hot shower. It relaxes your muscles, and any break from more stressful activities can help, too. Some find that an alternating hot and cold shower is even more relaxing.
4. Try watching your mind. Spot the stressors lurking below the surface (hunger, worry, a phone call you need to make, and you can resolve them and feel more relaxed. If you practice this mindfulness exercise, it may become one of your favorite relaxation techniques.
5. Try laughing. Find a guy who knows all the best jokes, or find something funny in front of you. Your own experience shows that this helps you relax, right?
6. Use relaxing music. Keep your favorite relaxation CD at the office, in the car, or wherever you need it most.
7. Leave the room for a while. This can help if the things in the room or related to it trigger your stressful thoughts. Why not get out for a little bit?
8. Breathe deeply. Try five deep breaths through your nose. Close your eyes and pay attention only to your breathing while doing this. It’s like a mini-meditation and perhaps the most effective quick relaxation technique.
9. Drink some chamomile tea. Chamomile tea seems to have a calming effect on the nerves. Any hot tea without caffeine may be relaxing.
10. Walk a while. Walking is one of the best relaxation techniques if you have at least ten minutes to spare. While you’re at it, find a pretty place to walk.
To truly relax, you must alter your behavior. Naturally, it is ideal if you can change yourself so you’re naturally more relaxed. Perhaps the thought of the work involved in this stresses you more. In that case, you might have to take it slow.
In the end, your mind is the most powerful tool you possess. The more you practice relaxation, the easier it will be to achieve a relaxed state of mind at will. So why not start with one or two simple relaxation techniques above?