Ten good relaxation techniques to try today, because stress isn't just uncomfortable - it's dangerous too.
A few good relaxation techniques can save your life, because stress is
more than just unpleasant. It's also dangerous to your health.
Disciplined practices such as meditation can help relieve that stress,
but what if you don't have the time or motivation? Maybe you need to
try a few of these simple ways to relax.
1. Hug someone. Giving a hug means getting one. As long as it's from
somebody you don't mind hugging you, this really can be relaxing.
2. Interrupt routines. Go talk to that guy sleeping on the bench, or
eat lunch on the roof. Just doing anything that breaks you out of your
habitual patterns can relieve stress.
3. Have a hot shower. It relaxes your muscles, and any break from more
stressful activities can help too. Some find that an alternating hot
and cold shower is even more relaxing.
4. Try watching your mind. Spot the stressors lurking just below the
surface (hunger, worry, a phone call you need to make), and you can
resolve them and feel more relaxed. If you practice this mindfulness
exercise, it may become one of your favorite relaxation techniques.
5. Try laughing. Your own experience shows that this helps you relax,
right? Go find a guy that knows all the best jokes, or find something
funny in front of you.
6. Use relaxing music. Keep your favorite relaxation CD at the office, in the car, or wherever you'll need it most.
7. Leave the room for a while. This can really help if the things in
the room or related to it are triggering your stressful thoughts. Why
not get out for a little while?
8. Breath deeply. Try five deep breaths through your nose. Close your
eyes and pay attention only to your breathing while doing this. It's
like a mini-meditation, and perhaps the most effective of the quick
relaxation techniques.
9. Drink some chamomile tea. Chamomile tea seems to have a calming
effect on the nerves. Any hot tea without caffeine may be relaxing.
10. Walk a while. If you have at least ten minutes to spare, walking is
one of the best relaxation techniques. While you're at it, find a
pretty place to walk.
Naturally, it is ideal if you can change yourself, so you're naturally
more relaxed all of the time. Perhaps the thought of the work involved
in this just stresses you more. In that case you might have to take it
slow, so why not start with one or two of the simple relaxation
techniques above?
