We live in a fast paced world that seems to constantly be making demands on us from the moment we wake up until we finally give into the call of sleep. Over time this pace can have numerous effects on both our physical and mental health. Stress is perhaps one of the single greatest problems we face as individuals and as a society and for this reason it is important that all of us find some way to relax when the pressures of life seem too much for us to handle.
10. Go for a Drive
Sometimes relaxing isn’t about what you are doing so much as where you are doing it. Going for a drive is a great way to get away from stress at home or at work and can lead to a new adventure. By taking the time to separate yourself from other people and take a journey, you are taking time for yourself. Next time you feel your stress levels building up try hoping in your car and going on a drive somewhere scenic. As you drive you will probably feel that your stress is fading away and that you are feeling more relaxed.
9. Exercise
It may seem a bit strange that exercising can be relaxing because most people view relaxation as not doing anything. The thing is that the reason why we want to relax is to reduce the stress we feel. When you exercise, your body creates endorphins and these endorphins make you feel good. Think about it for a moment, have you ever gone on a walk when you were upset and while you walked you felt yourself calm down and maybe even feel a bit peaceful? This happens because of those endorphins and believe it or not this will help you feel much more relaxed.
8. Read
A lot of the stress we feel happens because of the things that occupy our minds. Whether it is problems at home, work, or just because you woke up on the wrong side of the bed, reading gives your mind something to focus on besides the problems you are having. By taking the time to curl up with a good book, you are taking time out of your day to not focus on anything else and this helps your mind calm down and process things in the background.
7. Listen to Music
There are numerous studies on the effect music has on our brain and it is a great tool to help you relax. When you are listening to relaxing music, the brain calms down and you feel less stress and start to feel relaxed. It is important to keep in mind that if you are using music to relax you probably want to pick a style of music that is fairly mellow and won’t make you feel amped up and hyper.
6. Take a Hot Bath or Shower
Have you ever wondered why soap operas were called soap operas? The reason for this is because at one time the primary advertisements during day time television hours were commercials for bath soaps. Most of these commercials would show a woman who was frazzled from all the demands of her life who finally had time to herself and she used this time to take a warm bath. The reason this was such a popular format for those commercials was because hot baths are one of the best ways to relax ever invented. Heat causes our muscles to relax and skin to loosen in order to regulate its temperature. This in turn causes the rest of our bodies and our minds to follow suit and within just a few minutes of getting into the hot water you will begin to feel these effects. If baths are not your thing hot showers have the same effect and the added advantage of being a bit quicker. So next time you feel the urge to get away, try a hot bath or shower.