Taking time to relax is something many people struggle with. Relaxing can be a challenge for many reasons; maybe you have a hectic workload, perhaps you are constantly running around after the kids, or it could be a combination of many things. There are many reasons that relaxation can feel impossible for many people, but finding ways to take the opportunity to slow down and start to relax is essential to ensure you feel at your best. Living life at top speed all the time can take its toll on your health and well-being. You may find you feel permanently stressed, or you may feel run down and susceptible to picking up every illness going around. Living with chronic stress like this is no fun at all, so it is vital to reduce your stress levels and their impact on your life. If you are looking to introduce more opportunities to relax in your daily life, why not give some of these relaxation tips a try:
Plan Ahead
If you feel you are always running late and struggling to stay on top of everything you need to do, your stress levels are likely sky high. To start getting on top of your stressful daily battle against the clock, it is a good idea to pause and think about how you can make life easier for yourself.
Planning ahead is usually the most effective way to prevent last-minute panics. If you can do tasks such as preparing the kids’ lunches for school and setting out their clothes the night before, this should help to reduce the pressure in the mornings. Writing down everything you need to do on a calendar or just making a to-do list can also be highly beneficial. Having everything written down means you do not have the mentally draining task of keeping everything in your head and remembering it.
Getting organized is an excellent way to start every day in a positive mood, rather than feeling stressed before you have even left the house. Planning can help you see if you need help in different areas, such as getting a sitter, so that you can be less stressed.
Take a Social Media Break
If you find that when you finally sit down at the end of the day, your first instinct is to pick up your phone and scroll through social media, this may be something you want to stop for a while. Using social media is an excellent way to stay connected with people and engage with people worldwide, but it can also have its negative side.
If you find you start comparing yourself with the images you see on social media and that scrolling through your feed makes you feel bad about yourself, it is time to take a break. Stepping away from social media does not have to be a permanent arrangement; it can be helpful just to take a couple of days or even a week or two away from social media. There is no need to delete your accounts completely, you can deactivate Instagram temporarily and then reactivate it when you are ready.
Being away from social media can provide you with a valuable opportunity to focus on your own life without being distracted. You may be shocked by how much free time you get back each day when you take a social media break, which means more time for you to use for relaxation.
Spend Time in Nature
Spending time in the fresh air is an excellent way to improve your mood and bring more relaxation into your life. Being surrounded by nature offers the ideal opportunity to get some breathing space away from your busy everyday life. Research suggests that spending just two hours of your week outside in nature can benefit your physical and mental health. The time you spend outdoors does not even need to be adventurous for you to gain the benefits, simply going for a walk in a natural space or spending time in your backyard can all be helpful. The combination of fresh air and a change of scenery can significantly enhance your mood and get you feeling more relaxed in a short space of time. This is why I just became a member at the Chicago Botanic Garden so we can take more nature walks and relax more.
Make Relaxation Your Hobby
Choosing hobbies that calm you is an excellent way to add more relaxation into your daily routine. Yoga and tai chi are incredibly relaxing and help to soothe away tension and stress that you may be carrying in your body. Even if yoga or tai chi do not appeal to you, you should be able to find a hobby that you find relaxing and can fit into your day.
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Marette Flora is the founder of Floradise blog and personalized gift shop. Marette is a passionate storyteller and creator. She attended the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication.
She is passionate about creating helpful and meaningful things.