Top 5 Ways to Relax

The Top 5 ways to relax

We all live in a busy and stressful world, it is important for your long term health you learn to relax when possible – Here are our top 5 ways to relax.

Counting backwards

Stare up at the ceiling and count down from 60 as gazing upward stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers blood pressure and slows the pace of the breath. Concentrating on counting backwards will also help rid your mind of distractions as it’s harder to freak out about an upcoming interview when you’re trying to remember what comes after 31…

Write down your worries in a notebook

Putting your problems down on paper and properly acknowledging them may help take forget about whatever is bothering you for the short term, while you’re trying to rest. You know you’ve written any issues down and can work through them at a later date.

Deep breathing

Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth 10 times as deep breathing slows the heart rate and calms the body. Focusing on your stomach rising and falling, and your breath flowing in and out, will help you concentrate on your body, instead of outside distractions. By slowing down your breathing and breathing from your diaphragm you can immediately relax yourself. When we are stressed we tend to take shallow breaths which don’t give us enough oxygen.

Squeeze a Stress Ball

On days when you want to strangle a colleague, your family members, or the driver giving you road rage, squeeze a stress ball instead. It’s an easy, portable, and non-violent way to relieve tension.

Go outside

When things are getting on top of you, get out of the house and breathe some fresh air. Take yourself for a walk or if you feel like exerting yourself a bit further then do some gentle exercise. It’s true what they say, exercise is good for the mind as well as the body and will stop you from stewing about whatever is on your mind.