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Today's hectic lifestyle can add stress to your life. Balancing work and family have never been harder. Many people have no down time and no me time. But it is important to take care of yourself even if it is just taking five minutes to chill out.
Relaxation can keep your mind and body healthy, according to Healthline. That’s because it helps you recover from life’s stressors like being stuck in traffic or a stuffed inbox.
It’s important to understand that stress is a normal part of everyday life. That’s what motivates you to act like in a fight or flight situation. Luckily this is not the normal case. But allowing too much stress to build up is detrimental to your health. Try some of these nine ways to chill out to add some calm in your life.
Connect with your breathe
Breathing exercises are one of the easy ways to relax and can calm your stress in just a few minutes. Just sit or lie down in a quiet space and breathe in while counting to three and then breathe out to the same count. Let your mind concentrate on your breath as you feel your chest rise and fall. Repeat this exercise five times, or more if needed.
Write it down
A great way to get stressors off your mind is to write it down. You can keep a notebook or journal handy so that you can take a few minutes to clear your thoughts and express yourself. It doesn’t matter what you write or how well you write, as long as you write down how you are feeling or how your day is going. Writing can be very therapeutic.
Get your Zen on
Meditation is a good way to get a handle on stress, according to the American Institute of Stress (AIS). That’s because meditation allows you to observe your emotions in a nonjudgmental way. In fact, meditating just a few minutes a day can greatly reduce stress and anxiety.
Listen to your tunes
An easy way to relax is by plugging in your earbuds and listening to your favorite tunes. You can listen to calming music to promote relaxation or upbeat songs to help lift your mood. If you are alone, you can even sing along to the music.
Visualize calm
Visualizing calm can take you to your happy place, according to Healthline. Find a quiet spot and think about the space where you feel the most calm. Close your eyes and visualize the sights, sounds, and smells of that place. You can visualize the place where you grew up or a vacation at the shore; any place that brings you a sense of calm and wellbeing.
Connect to nature
Just spending a few minutes in nature can help you feel relaxed. So if you are feeling stressed, take a walk outside and soak up the sun. If you can’t get away, just looking out a window or viewing images of green spaces can bring you calm.
Give yourself a hand massage
You don’t have to have a full body massage to help you relax according to the Greatest. A five-minute hand massage can help you relieve stress and anxiety and its easy to do. Start by putting some massage cream or hand cream on your palm and massage each joint and between your fingers. Then clench and release your fists to get the tension out. Next flex your wrists and let the relaxation flow. You can also give yourself a neck and head massage to help releave tension.
Smell some calming scents
Aromatherapy is a great way to relax. Use a calming scent like lavender or lemon balm in a diffuser or put a few drops of essential oil on your wrists. Soothing scents can help you calm down and destress naturally.
Tea Time
Relax with a soothing cup of green tea. The l-theanine in green tea can help reduce your body’s stress response. Or enjoy a cup of chamomile or mint tea to help promote calm. Experiment with different herbal blends to find the one that works best for you.
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