If you are feeling a little anxious or stressed, taking a deep breath, holding it, and then exhaling can help you to feel much more relaxed. However, this is only one way to relax. Finding what works for you will make a big difference in your life and mean that you can unwind and relax both mind and body at the end of the day, relieving stress, anxious feelings, depression, and even improving your sleep.
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Relaxing your mind and body
There are a number of ways that you can relax. Some ways are going to help you to relax your mind, and others will help you to relax your body. The two are connected, though, as you will know, so there are things to do that can make a difference to both. Here are some things that you can try if you find it hard to rest and relax and often feel stressed or anxious at the end of the day.
Relaxing the mind
- Try some deep breathing exercises, as well as practicing medication.
- Have a warm bath.
- Listen to something that is soothing to you, such as a podcast or music.
- Draw or write. People can find writing in a journal something that is relaxing, especially when writing down thoughts, worries, and other feelings.
- Think about guided imagery, particularly when meditating, for example. It can help you to feel calm and relaxed, and can be done by using a particular script or a recorded guide.
Relaxing the body
- Some gentle exercise like yoga can make a difference to how you relax and make your body wind down.
- Have a massage. Of course, this can be tricky to do all the time as you need someone else to help you with this, but scheduling it in, particularly after a stressful event, can make a difference.
- Enjoy a warm drink that is free from caffeine, such as herbal tea or warm milk.
- Go for a gentle walk. It can get you prepared for relaxation and can relax both mind and body and prepare you for relaxing.
- Relax your muscles. This can feel easier said than done, but it can be something that you choose to do from home. This is where you tense and then relax each muscle in a group, and as you do it gradually on different areas of the body, it can reduce feelings of anxiousness and help to improve sleep.
Taking steps to help you to relax can be such a good thing for both your physical health, as well as mental health. The modern world that we live in is so busy, with a lot of stress and pressure on ourselves. Finding something that you enjoy and that works for you will help so much. As much as you think that just sitting watching TV is a way to relax, you’re not truly switching off and relaxing both mind and body. Take it a step further and you’ll definitely feel the difference in how both your mind and body feel.
