With today’s busy lifestyles, it can be challenging to make time for what truly matters – yourself. Relaxing is often seen a luxury that many people can’t afford and in these circumstances could face burn out if your time out is left on the backburner. If you have kids, getting five minutes peace and quiet is also a rarity, and never something you can squeeze into your daily routine. But by making time for relaxation, you can open up a host of benefits for both your body and mind, plus it gives you space to reflect on all areas of your life. Making time might be easier said than done but if you can get at least a few minutes a day for your thoughts, you will enjoy a clearer mind for a healthier and happier outlook.
Check out these top ways to relax your body and mind to make your more productive and fulfilled each day.
Try deep breathing techniques
Deep breathing is often a technique taken for granted when our stress levels are high. By focusing on your inhales and exhales in a tense situation, you can begin to lower your heart rate and blood pressure. When you are stressed, you take shallow breaths, which in extreme cases can cause panic attacks. Regulating your breathing doesn’t just have to happen during stressful situations. By practicing it on a daily basis, you can learn to control your emotions, which will help you deal with future issues more effectively.
Calming exercise
Exercise is commonly known as a huge stress buster, but you don’t have the hit the treadmill to feel the benefits in your mood. There is a range of exercise that incorporates both fitness and calming techniques into daily activities. Yoga and Pilates are both great examples of this, and although they might seem tough at the beginning, they help to strengthen your breathing and muscles for a healthier body and mind. Taking a class every week can easily fit into your routine and if you find a local spot, then just an hour or so out of your week, will see you feeling reenergized in the long-term.
Listen to music
Music is often associated with mood-boosting properties. It also conjures a range of emotions and can suit a variety of moods from anger to heartbreak. The power of a song can have fantastic benefits when making time to relax during the day, and popping on some soothing tunes while you take a few moments to gather your thoughts can help you clear your mind. If you’re feeling particularly stressed or sad, simply by putting on music that you associate with happier times can help to lift your mood and give you a clearer outlook for resolving issues.
Get a massage
Treating yourself every now and then to a pamper day or quick massage has tons of health-boosting benefits. It can also relieve tensions and promote blood circulation in your body, which helps you to feel relaxed and stress-free. You can get a host of services to fit into your schedule, and they can focus on particular elements where you have built up tension. For something a little different, these massages can stimulate the senses and help you lose yourself in the moment.
Have a chat with friends
One of the best ways to get something off your chest is by chatting about the situation with the people closest to you. It might be that you want someone to rant to about something you cannot change, or getting help and advice from someone else to help you make sense of an issue. By opening up to others, it can feel like a huge weight has been lifted from your shoulders, which will help you feel more in control of the situation. Meeting with friends is also beneficial when you need to take some time out of your everyday routine. Catching up with old pals and talking about life and loves is a great way to take your mind off things and enjoy the moment.
Get outside
Something as simple as getting outside and taking a deep breath can truly help boost your mood. If you are stuck in an office all day or running errands regularly, it can often make you feel completely frazzled. By just taking a short walk outside or sitting on a bench to gather your thoughts can help ten-fold with problem-solving and relieving stress levels. It doesn’t have to take up much of your time either so can be incorporated into everyday schedules with ease.
Stick to it
It’s all well and good talking about making time to relax but sticking to it is the hardest task. Finding an excuse not to do it is often easier, and most of the time, relaxation is something that is the last priority. By sticking to a schedule, it will ensure you get some time to detach yourself from your everyday routine completely and if you’re finding it hard, why not get others involved. As family life can be hectic for you and everyone else, why not incorporate a time every day where each family member has a digital detox or get together for some relaxation periods. Sometimes it’s easier when you have support from others to change your habits and to get everyone involved in your relaxation techniques can help to improve their wellbeing too.
Be mindful
Life can seem to pass you by, and there are often times where something has gone completely unnoticed due to distractions. By being mindful of situations, you can open yourself up to seeing and feeling the beauty of different aspects of the day, which can help you focus on the task at hand. Just taking a minute to stop, think and appreciate will also boost your happiness and fulfillment in the long run.
These are just some of the ways to make your life more relaxed, why not try them out today to start feeling the benefits.