Here is the understatement of the day: Our world is full of stress. Besides all of the stress related to business and life during a pandemic, we are faced with political issues, important societal issues, economic issues, and more. It seems like every time you login to social media or even have conversations with colleagues and even friends, there often is an undercurrent of anger.
That's why it is imperative for your own mental health (and by default, the health of the people you live with and care about) that your daily routine include a process for relaxing.
Relaxing is important, and if you want to be at your best each day, you must give relaxation the attention it deserves.
Following are some simple techniques to incorporate relaxation into your daily life:
Take a cold shower or even enjoy a walk in the rain. Exposure to cold might not sound relaxing, and you'd be right. It's not the cold that's relaxing, it's the feeling after you've allowed yourself to warm back up. It's as if the stress has been drained from your very soul. Cold can also snap you out of your current mood. Hop in a cold shower and you'll see how quickly you forget about the day's stress.
Muscle tighten your entire body. Start with your toes and move up your body one muscle group at a time. Clench and flex that muscle with maximum effort. Hold it for a few seconds, relax, and repeat. Flex each muscle 3 to 5 times and move on to the next muscle. Or, you can also try flexing all of your muscles at once. Try both methods and see which provides more relief. Introducing more muscle stress into your body can actually help to release your overall tension.
Pull out the crayons. Coloring puts your attention on something neutral. It can be a form of meditation. You also have the added boost of having created something when you're done. You might not want to hang it on your refrigerator for the world to see, but at least you have a sense of accomplishment.There are even adult coloring books designed to help take your mind off your troubles. Try coloring ... it’s not just for kids.
White noise. Consider the recorded sounds of ocean waves, rain, a crackling fire, or any other sound you might find soothing. These types of sounds can be very relaxing. It's easy to find white noise - search for white noise or relaxing sounds on YouTube. Or on your mobile device, search your app store for white noise applications.
Stare at a fire. If you don't have a fireplace, a candle will do. Do a YouTube search on "fireplace" and high-quality video of a fire with crackling noises will work. There's something hypnotic and soothing about a fireplace and staring at a fireplace or a candle can be a superb way to relax.
Stretch. Stretching your body is an effective way to release tension and relax. You don't need any fancy equipment. Just relax on the floor and do all those stretches you do (or used to do) in the gym.
Buy a plant. Plants are relaxing. Walk around the local nursery and find the perfect plant for your home or office. Put it in the sun, water it, fertilize it, look at it, and - as crazy as it might sound - event talk to it. You'll be surprised by the positive impact a single plant can have.
Do a puzzle. Mental puzzles are a good way to occupy your mind and give it a chance to relax. Crosswords, a jigsaw puzzle, mazes, or any type of brain teaser can be an effective way to relax. Search for "online puzzles" if you need a quick break from your daily work. Spend just a few minutes focused on solving a puzzle and it's amazing how quickly forget about your daily stresses.
Read part of a book. Reading for just a few minutes can take your mind off of current activities and put it into a completely different world. The key is to not read current news, social media posts, or even books about finance, business, or other topics that might create more stress. Instead, find a fictional mystery book, a biography, or a book related to one of your hobbies. Just 15 minutes of reading for pleasure can dramatically reduce your stress.
Create a routine that will allow you to relax at least once each day. Relaxation is important if you want to be at your best. Stress is damaging to your body and mind, so make relaxation a part of each and every day.
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