Relaxation is very important but not many of us do it often enough or even find the time in our very busy schedules. Relaxation is important because it can keep you healthy within your mind and body. This can help you recovery from the everyday stress life throws at us. It is important to find the time to relax no matter how busy you are. There are some easy methods of how to relax, it can take a little as 5 to 10 minutes a day.
Tips for relaxation
1. Connect with nature
Spending a few minutes with nature when you feel stressed can help you feel relaxed. Sometimes when you’re feeling stressed the best thing to do, is going for a short walk, sit in the park or a greenery setting. You don’t have to always necessarily be in nature to feel its stress reducing effects. Scientists have studied that simply looking at greenery images for five minutes on a phone or computer screen can help calm you down. This is great for people working and living in big cities far from nature, they can still benefit from the calming effects it has.
2. Write down your thoughts
Writing down your thoughts is a very good way to relax, it helps with getting things off your mind. When you are feeling stressed, take a few minutes to write down short notes of how you are feeling and how your day is going. You can do this on your phone or in a notepad. It doesn’t have to be in the best grammar you just focus on expressing yourself so that you can help release some stress.
3. Alone time
Getting some alone time is very effective way to helping you feeling relaxed. You do not need hours even 5 minutes alone time, as often as possible, is a great way to help you feel relaxed. A great benefit of alone time, is it helps you to have a better understanding of who you are. The more you know who you are, the more likely you will do things that you love, this can help you learn your interests and things you want to achieve.
4. Aromatherapy
You can mix a few drops of your favourite essential oil with a carrier oil and rub them into your hands. You can also inhale or drip some lavender, chamomile or any other essential oil in a diffuser. These soothing scents may help soothe your stress and anxiety away by stimulating receptors in the nose that are connected to the part of the brain that regulates emotions. Aromatherapy can help with health benefits, it may:
· Ease stress, anxiety and depression
· Help with boost of relaxation
· Improve sleep
· Ease certain types of pain, such as kidney stones and osteoarthritis of the knee
· It can help fight bacteria when put on the skin
· Ease some of the side effects of cancer treatment, like nausea and pain.
5. Making a list
It is always good to make a list of what you are grateful for this can help some people feel relaxed. Experts have said that when we are stress, we tend to focus on the negative parts of life instead of the positives. Thinking about the positive parts of our lives and writing them down may help lift your spirits and improve your mood. It may be good to purchase a gratitude book.
6. Visualizing your calm
Finding your happy place, sitting in a quiet and safe place is a great start. This could be somewhere in your home for example your bedroom. When you have found your happy place, you want to begin by thinking about somewhere in the world where you feel the calmest. Next, you want to close your eyes and imagine all the details linked to that place i.e the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile feelings. The more you get into a deep visual state of mind, the more real this will feel, this can help you to relax.
7. Breathing techniques
Breathing exercise are a very simple strategy of relaxation. This can be an effective way to calm you, when you are feeling stressed out. This can be done anywhere at any time. You can lay or sit down in a quiet place like your bed or the floor, place your hands on your belly and breathe in and out slowly with the count of 3. Repeat this around five times or as long as needed.
8. Cleaning and de-cluttering
Cleaning combined with having a cleaner home, can help reduce stress, feelings of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Having cleaner sheets and making your bed has been proven to have a better night’s sleep. Clutter and mess can be linked with negative emotions such as confusion and tension. Whereas having a tidy, clean home leads positive emotions such as sense of welling and calm. Sorting through and organising your things can reduce stress and anxiety.
9. Releasing physical tension
Usually when we are feeling mentally stressed, we also become physically stressed. The release of physical tension can help relief your body and mind of stress. Laying on a soft sofa or soft surface, like your bed or on the carpet or even a yoga mat. Tense up one part of your body at a time, then slowly releases your muscles. As you are doing this you will notice your body sensations will change.
10. Mediation
Meditation is the habitual process of training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts. It’s becoming more common as more people are discovering the health benefits. This is a good way to increase awareness for your surroundings and for yourself. It’s a good way to reduce stress and develop concentration. People have found other benefits of mediation such as positive moods, self-discipline, healthy sleep patterns and even to increase pain tolerance.
11. Scalp massage
A scalp massages using warm oil infused with hair friendly herbs, is a good way to nourish your scalp. This also relaxes your mind and nervous system which helps promote a good night’s sleep and can help with your memory too. Head massage is great for the following reasons: Release of tension, ease migraine and headache pain, reduce stress and promote relaxation. It also has other benefits such as promoting hair growth.
12. Eating fruits
Eating fruits can have many benefits, one of their many benefits can be to help ease stress levels. Citrus and strawberries contain vitamins C which helps to fight stress. Studies have found high levels of Vitamin C can help to ease stress.
13. Acupressure
Is a form of alternative therapy, which uses manual pressure to stimulate specific points on the body, these are considered to be lines of energy. Practitioners use their fingers, elbows, palms and feet. They may sometimes use a special machine to help apply pressure points on the body's meridians. Acupressure can also involve stretching. Here is a list of benefits of acupressure massage:
· Natural pain relief
· Lowers high blood pressure
· Releases endorphins
· Useful for sports injury
· Aids other serious health conditions
· Muscle relaxation
· Improves sleep
· Improves digestion
14. Yoga
Yoga is known to help encourage mental and physical relaxation, this helps to reduce stress and anxiety. The physical postures promote flexibility, relieve tension, and alleviate pain. Yoga poses can also help you to release physical blockages like muscle knots, helping release emotions and tension. Its brings you physical and mental discipline, this may help you achieve peacefulness within your body and mind.
15. Reiki
Reiki is a meditative practice that promotes relaxation, helps reduce stress and anxiety. It also promotes a positive mental state through gentle touch. Reiki practitioners believe that improving the flow of energy around the body can enable relaxation, relieve pain, speed healing, and reduce other symptoms of illness. Here is a list of benefits from reiki healing:
· Brings on a meditative state.
· Foster tissue and bone healing after injury or surgery.
· Stimulate your body's immune system.
· Promote natural self-healing.
· Relieve pain and tension.
Another great way to relax if you have an hour or two on your hands, is go for a relaxing massage or facial treatment at a local spa or salon with a tranquil atmosphere. A great massage to have is a Swedish massage, aromatherapy massage or a Back, Face and Scalp massage. Come and visit Touch of Paradise and relax your mind, body and soul. We offer a range of relaxing massage for you to enjoy.
If you would like to book a relaxing massage or facial treatment at Touch of Paradise, please click the button below to book in online, or email us at touchofparadise.ewell@gmail.com