Many of us associate relaxing with plopping down on the couch and zoning out in front of the television at the end of a long day. However, the truth is that this really doesn’t make us any less stressed. It’s not really doing anything at all. If you want to truly relax after a long day, then you’ll want to be proactive with how you relax.
Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to do this, many of which we’re going to explore within this article. While there’s no real right or wrong way to relax, it’s important for you to figure out what works best for you. That’s why we include a variety of techniques to try for yourself.
Deep Breathing
Perhaps one of the default most popular ways to relax and release stress is deep breathing.
Deep breathing is a simple yet effective relaxation method that focuses on large, cleansing breaths. It’s simple to learn, can be done practically anywhere, and is a practical approach to reduce tension quickly. All you need to do is sit in a quiet space, close your eyes, breathe in for 4 seconds through your nose, hold for five seconds, and breathe out through your mouth for eight seconds.
Aim to repeat this cycle 3-5 times, but you can do it as much as you like. The benefits will be felt instantly.
A Body Scan Meditation
This is a sort of meditation where you concentrate on different regions of your body. You begin with your feet and work your way up, similar to progressive muscle relaxation. Instead of tensing and releasing muscles, you just focus on how each region of your body feels without assigning a positive or negative connotation to the sensations.
Lie on your back with your legs uncrossed, arms at your sides, and eyes open or closed. Concentrate on your breathing for about two minutes or until you begin to relax.
Mindful Exercise and Rhythmic Movement
Although the thought of exercising may not sound very relaxing, rhythmic activity that puts you in a flow of repetitive movement can induce relaxation. Here are several examples:
- Running
- Walking
- Swimming
- Dancing
- Rowing
- Climbing
Add mindfulness to your workout for optimum stress alleviation.
Mindful exercise, like meditation, necessitates being totally immersed in the present now, focusing on how your body feels right now rather than your everyday problems or anxieties. Focus on the feelings in your limbs and how your breathing complements your movement instead of zoning out or staring at a TV when exercising.
Focus on the sensation of your feet touching the ground, the rhythm of your breath, and the feel of the wind against your face whether you’re walking or jogging. Focus on matching your breathing with your movements throughout resistance training, and pay attention to how your body feels as you increase and lower the weights.
Return your concentration to your breathing and exercise when your mind drifts to other thoughts.
CBD Products
If you want something a little more proactive for your relaxation ventures, then you may want to start looking into CBD products. There are plenty of variations out there for you to explore, therefore seeing which is best for you, for example, you could try oils, or you could try savory CBD gummies. It’s up to you.
When ingested, the CBD works within the body to actively reduce the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression, thus making you feel more calm and relaxed.
Summary
When it comes to relaxing, it’s recommended that you take the time to figure out what works for you. Some techniques will work differently at different times, so experiment and take note. Some techniques, like meditation, you’ll want to practice consistently every day, building up the habit so you get the best results. In the meantime, take a deep breath, center yourself, and start over. You’ve got this.
