In this fast-paced, stress-filled world, practicing relaxation is critical. You never know when you may run into an argument or miss out on a golden opportunity. Things in day-to-day life can be frustrating. And in order to stay calm and motivated, you’d need relaxation techniques.
Here are seven effective relaxation techniques you should practice every day.
Get Away
One of the most effective ways to relax is to get out of a stressful situation. If you’re caught up in an argument that isn’t going anywhere, carrying it on would do no good. But it will certainly hinder the peace in your mind. In such cases, it’s always wise to take a deep breath and walk away.
However, it’s important to focus on how you get away. If you just storm out in a hurry, the opposition party would think they’d scared you off. Stay calm, and politely tell them that ‘you’re out of it,’ and you need to get some fresh air.
Then go outside, take a short walk, and breathe some fresh air. Let your mind clear itself from the clutter it had accumulated, thereby helping you become calmer and relaxed.
Take Deep Breaths
You may haven’t realized, but the previous point had a couple of mentions about breathing. It’s no coincidence. Breathing is one of the easiest and effective relaxation techniques you can practice. If you’re panicking or infuriating, start taking slow, deep breaths.
As you breathe in, your blood pressure reduces, and your heart rate goes down, resulting in a feeling of calmness. Keep in mind that when you breathe, you do it slowly and steadily. If you end up gulping lots of air quickly, you’ll hyperventilate yourself. It will increase your heart rate, and you’ll experience the opposite of what you wanted.
Get Yourself a Treat
Who said you should have a treat only when you feel good? Well, it might seem crazy to get ice cream when you’re having a bad day, but here’s the catch. Why do we get a treat when we feel good?
When we eat something we love, it releases serotonin, resulting in a feel-good effect. So, when we’re already feeling good, and we have a treat, we feel better.
When you feel bad, the serotonin concentrations in your body are low. By eating your favorite food, you can stimulate the release of serotonin and start to feel better.
If you don’t want to get confused with science, just know this: when you eat your favorite food, it makes you feel better and relaxed,
Sing
You don’t need to be a singer. Don’t worry if your dog hides under the sofa when it hears you sing. You don’t have to appear on American Idol. You just need to relax your brain.
The next time when you’re upset, start humming your favorite song, and see how you’ll instantly start feeling better. If you don’t remember any song (which is rare), you can also plug in your earplugs and start listening to your favorite music.
However, it’s crucial to listen to or sing the right kind of music. If you’re sad and you’re listening to sad music on top of it, you’ll certainly become sadder. Make sure to pick the music that soothes your mind and takes you away from your troubles.
Engage in Physical Activity
This one’s quite self-explanatory, and you must’ve heard it before. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, a type of hormone that acts as a natural painkiller and mood elevator. So, if you’re having a bad day, go for a jog or hit the gym or climb a hill. Do anything that stimulates your body and facilitates the release of endorphins.
However, don’t exercise out of frustration. You really want to avoid extreme sports or lifting here, or else you’ll injure yourself. The key is to wear your body down slowly, helping you relax.
Mindfulness Meditation
Getting angry or stressed is associated with marginal changes in your brain. The release of a few chemicals here and there can entirely change your mood. But the good thing is that you can control the release of these chemical transmitters quite easily.
When you meditate, your brain releases serotonin and dopamine, two hormones that elicit the feeling of please and happiness. At the same time, it also impedes the production of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol (stress hormone).
So, adding a 20-30-minute meditation routine to your daily schedule can go a long way in helping you relax and manage stress.
Perform a Hobby
Doing what you love is probably the best way to relax your mind and feel good about yourself. This technique is especially helpful when you’re struggling at work. If you’re trapped in a job that you don’t enjoy but also can’t leave, doing a hobby once in a while can be an effective stress buster.
So, spare some time every day and do what you love – paint, play games, sing, dance, and the list goes on.
Relaxation Techniques: Conclusion
Staying calm and relaxed is a skill, and it’s something you can develop over time. Follow the relaxation techniques above and get rid of stress and frustration from your life.
Also, don’t forget to check out The Mind Game for more such tips and techniques.
