Life can be overwhelming. Especially these days as you try to balance family, work, kids, a global pandemic, and so on. What if we told you there are some super simple relaxation techniques to allow yourself to cope in the moment and balance yourself? Keep reading to learn a few simple exercises to teach you how to relax— no matter where you are.
Try these 4 helpful relaxation techniques anytime, anywhere…
Meditate
When you think of meditating, you may think of the Dalai Lama or any other revered and sophisticated spiritual figure. But, the truth is, meditating is much more simple than most people think. Mediation can be as simple as repeating a mantra to yourself while taking slow deep breaths. Something like “I’ve got this” or “it’s going to be okay” will do the trick. You can also take a couple of minutes to practice mindfulness to relieve stress. Mindfulness is the practice of being in the moment. Take a few minutes away from your racing thoughts and turning stomach to instead focus on what you actually see, hear, touch, and smell.
Focus On Your Breathing
Taking a few minutes to merely focus on your breathing can do wonders when it comes to relieving stress and anxiety. Breathing techniques work to calm your body and brain in just a few minutes. You can practice breathing techniques no matter where you are, from a big stakeholder meeting to the middle of a traffic jam, to the comfort of your own bed at night.
Here’s how to get started:
- Breathe in through your nose and watch as your stomach fills up with air. Count to three slowly as you inhale. Hold your breath for one second and then slowly breathe out through your nose as you start to count to three again.
- Breathe in through your nose and picture yourself inhaling peaceful, calming air. Then, picture that air spreading through your body. As you exhale, picture yourself breathing out your stress, worries, and tension.
Get in a Yoga Habit
Similar to meditating, yoga is actually much more simple than most people think. Yoga combines physical movement, meditation, stretching, light exercise, and controlled breathing— all these things provide amazing stress relief benefits, put them all together and you’ve got a powerful tool against stress. What’s more, yoga also offers a number of psychological, spiritual, and physical benefits. Start out by trying out a yoga course on YouTube from the comfort of your own home, and then go from there.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy has a number of stress-relieving benefits, from helping you feel energized, calm, or even more present in the moment. What’s more, there’s science to back up these claims! Research shows that certain scents can alter brain activity and lower stress hormones in the body. You can enjoy your aromatherapy via candles, diffusers, and even lotion. For a powerful relaxing combination, try lavender and rosemary.
Get the whole family involved trying these relaxation techniques, and after a week or two, ask everybody what their favorite (and most effective) stress-relieving activity was and why. Then, compare notes and suggestions.
Author & Editor at Housholdhealthy.com
Based in Vancouver, BC
Ever since I became a mom, I loved having discussions with my other mom friends on our parenting experiences. I always wanted to share my own experiences with the mommy community, so here I am, trying to deliver the best content for my readers. I am happily married in Canada with 2 daughters aged 2 and 5 years old.
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