Building relaxation time into your life is so important. It can help to keep your stress levels down, which in turn helps maintain and improve your health.
We all live busy lives and it’s often difficult to fit our work and home schedule into the day, let alone find time for ourselves. Without time to relax we can feel we’re losing control, our stress levels increase causing our blood pressure to rise and our brain to behave differently. Too much work and not enough time out can result in physical and mental health problems, and although finding ‘me’ time can be difficult, it’s essential for our overall wellbeing if we’re to keep anxiety at bay.
Fitting just twenty minutes into your day for ‘calm’ can be all you need to improve your wellbeing. Take a break and remove yourself from your work for a while; take a stroll in the open air, have a coffee with a friend or listen to some soothing music. Physically and mentally leave your work at the office and when you get home use your evenings to unwind, whether it’s enjoying a glass of wine, soaking in a lovely warm bubble bath or snuggling on the sofa with your spouse.
There are so many wonderful ways to relax and studies show many additional benefits including a lower risk of heart attack, a boost for your immune system and even an improvement for your memory. Chilling out is a way to not only look after yourself physically, mentally and emotionally, it is also the best way to soothe the soul.
5 Stress-Relieving Tips
Breathe Deeply
Deep breathing counters the effects of stress by slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure. Close your eyes and slowly inhale through your nose, then reverse the process as you exhale through your mouth.
Enjoy the Moment
Don’t rush through everything but spend time in the moment, enjoying whatever you are doing with awareness. When you focus on your senses you should feel the tension leave your body.
Have a Chat
Having a friend to talk to is a great way to relieve stress, whether it’s face-to-face or on the phone. As they say, – ‘A problem shared is a problem halved.’ – and having someone else’s perspective on a situation can be a real help.
Meditate
This needn’t mean twisting your body into an uncomfortable position or humming loudly! It can be any repetitive action that keeps your attention calmly in the present moment, such as walking, painting or knitting. If you catch yourself thinking about what’s stressing you out, simply let the thought escape and bring your mind back to the repetition of the activity.
Laugh out Loud
Having a laugh fills your body with ‘happy hormones’ and your mind with funny thoughts that help make everything feel better. So go on, have a giggle!