Top Ten Ways to Relax

We live in a fast paced world that seems to constantly be making demands on us from the moment we wake up until we finally give into the call of sleep. Over time this pace can have numerous effects on both our physical and mental health. Stress is perhaps one of the single greatest problems we face as individuals and as a society and for this reason it is important that all of us find some way to relax when the pressures of life seem too much for us to handle.

10. Go for a Drive

Sometimes relaxing isn’t about what you are doing so much as where you are doing it. Going for a drive is a great way to get away from stress at home or at work and can lead to a new adventure. By taking the time to separate yourself from other people and take a journey, you are taking time for yourself. Next time you feel your stress levels building up try hoping in your car and going on a drive somewhere scenic. As you drive you will probably feel that your stress is fading away and that you are feeling more relaxed.

9. Exercise

It may seem a bit strange that exercising can be relaxing because most people view relaxation as not doing anything. The thing is that the reason why we want to relax is to reduce the stress we feel. When you exercise, your body creates endorphins and these endorphins make you feel good. Think about it for a moment, have you ever gone on a walk when you were upset and while you walked you felt yourself calm down and maybe even feel a bit peaceful? This happens because of those endorphins and believe it or not this will help you feel much more relaxed.

8. Read

A lot of the stress we feel happens because of the things that occupy our minds. Whether it is problems at home, work, or just because you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, reading gives your mind something to focus on besides the problems you are having. By taking the time to curl up with a good book, you are taking time out of your day to not focus on anything else and this helps your mind calm down and process things in the background.

7. Listen to Music

There are numerous studies on the effect music has on our brain and it is a great tool to help you relax. When you are listening to relaxing music, the brain calms down and you feel less stress and start to feel relaxed. It is important to keep in mind that if you are using music to relax you probably want to pick a style of music that is fairly mellow and won’t make you feel amped up and hyper.

6. Take a Hot Bath or Shower

Have you ever wondered why soap operas were called soap operas? The reason for this is because at one time the primary advertisements during day time television hours were commercials for bath soaps. Most of these commercials would show a woman who was frazzled from all the demands of her life who finally had time to herself and she used this time to take a warm bath. The reason this was such a popular format for those commercials was because hot baths are one of the best ways to relax ever invented. Heat causes our muscles to relax and skin to loosen in order to regulate its temperature. This in turn causes the rest of our bodies and our minds to follow suit and within just a few minutes of getting into the hot water you will begin to feel these effects. If baths are not your thing hot showers have the same effect and the added advantage of being a bit quicker. So next time you feel the urge to get away, try a hot bath or shower.

5. Get a Massage

Stress causes our bodies to tense up and over time this tension has a harder and harder time leaving the body. Not only does repeated stress cause the body to remain tense, it also causes the body to tense up quicker. All this combines into a very stressed body which also creates mental stress and will leave all of us feeling a bit overwhelmed.A talented masseuse knows how to manipulate the muscles of your body in order to get them to relax and this will help you feel more relaxed. When you notice that your shoulders always seem hunched or that you are always rubbing the back of your neck, go see a massage therapist, it will help.

4. Meditate

Meditation has long been known as a excellent relaxation method. The problem is that many people think mediation requires some kind of special training or knowledge and so never learn to use it as a way to deal with stress. The truth is that meditation is easy to learn. Sit down somewhere quiet and away from other people. Close your eyes and focus on breathing in a slow steady rhythm and nothing else. As you breath let everything around you go away until it is just you and the sound of your breath moving in and out of your body. As you do this you will feel your body relax and your mind calm and feel more energy as well. This may seem incredibly simple, but try it out for yourself and you will see that meditation doesn’t take that much effort.

3. Cuddle with someone you Love

Most of our stress is caused by other people so it may seem a bit silly to seek someone out to help you relax. It is true that other people do cause us stress, but what is just as true is that we need other people. Each and every one of us feels a need to be loved and that is why cuddling with a loved one is such a great way to relax. Whether it is your child or just a really good friend taking time to rest with someone you care about and feel them close to you is a great way to let the stress fall away from you and give you a chance to focus on what matters most.

2. Walk in Nature

The natural world is a phenomenal thing. It is filled with beauty and is a great place to go when you feel the need to get away from the daily struggles of life. It doesn’t matter of it is a small park with just a couple of trees or a massive forest, the idea is to find a place that is natural and quiet and to simply enjoy being alive at that moment in time. We as people tend to forget just how strong our connection with nature is, but it is a very real thing. It is not wonder then that one of the best ways to relax is to go out into nature and get in touch with the parts of us that don’t worry about our boss, that fight we had with our friend, or any of the other things that can cause us stress. Next time you are feeling it all build up, go find a nice quiet tree and sit under its leaves and branches for a moment. You will be glad you did.

1. Lay Down somewhere Quiet

The reason that this one tops the list is because it is the oldest and truest way to relax in the book. By taking time to find a quiet place and lay down we are giving our body and mind a chance to rest. It is important that while you lay down, you focus on not letting anything else bother you. Its hard but try to clear your mind of all the things that are going on in your life and just relax.