Best Tips To Relax At Home
Best Tips To Relax At Home
In normal times, between work, family life, and recreation, it can be easy to forget to carve out some peaceful personal space — but when a crisis strikes, the need to let go of stress can be crucial. Whether you're looking to unwind after a long day or especially anxious over health, money or family worries, taking time to unwind on your own can be incredibly healthy and restorative.
With the looming knowledge that the world is in the middle of a global pandemic, life can feel more stressful now than ever before. It can be hugely taxing on the mind and body to think about the impacts of COVID-19 and social distancing, not to mention that all of life's usual stressors from work to grocery shopping to taking care of the kids are still present as well.
It can feel like too much to handle, and it's hard to get out of a rut when you're used to being stuck in this huge ball of stress. But de-stressing and finding ways to relax is really important, especially since stress is known to weaken the immune system, and if you get sick that certainly won't help the matter.
Next time you're feeling a bit overwhelmed, try one of these ways to relax that, with a little bit of practice, can boost your well-being practically anywhere, anytime. And once you feel comfortable incorporating these little acts of levity into your lifestyle, you'll notice a huge change in how you feel, both physically and mentally.
If you're ruled by your to-do list, it's time to learn the art of anything goes. Contradictory as it sounds, you have to schedule spontaneity, at least at first, says life coach Cheryl Richardson, author of The Art of Extreme Self-Care. How? Plan a plan-free day:
Put it on your calendar (in pen!) and when the time comes, let your freewheeling, creative, impulsive side call all the shots. Whatever you feel like doing that day, do it—no chores or “responsible” tasks allowed. Wake up and then go right back to bed. Watch a Real Housewives marathon.
Spend an embarrassing amount of time on Facebook. Go solo to see that new rom-com your husband scoffs at. Give yourself permission to spend the whole day doing exactly whatever you want, and see how improved your mood is by the end of it.
How do you like to kick back, chill out and really relax? This sounds as if it should be a simple question. But I can’t be alone in having spent several evenings over the past couple of weeks slumped on the sofa, “watching TV” while my eyes flicker across Twitter and Facebook, as well as five different WhatsApp groups on my phone.
Relaxing is increasingly difficult in our always-on digital world. This first struck me a couple of years ago when I had to stop exercising after an injury.
Exercise had always been my go-to “me-time” activity, and without it, I felt totally lost. I recently started again, but having only one means to de-stress now feels very limited and I am not even sure it counts as relaxing – it is quite hard work, and inherently competitive.
When I find myself at home with a free evening, I often have no idea what to do and inevitably end up staring emptily at one screen or another for hours, before stumbling off to bed, wondering where the time has gone.
Relaxing At Home
There are many ways to relax in your home, and it's just as important to remember that there are so many things that you can do to help yourself unwind. For example, try some of these tips:
- Take a hot bath
- Cook something delicious
- Read a good book with a cup of tea or coffee
- Listen to music or watch your favorite movie
- Get out the paint and create something
The Benefits Of Relaxing
Relaxing is important in today's world because it helps with your well-being, which can have a huge impact on your health. Relaxation also helps to reduce stress levels, which in turn can help you avoid the common cold, reduce stress-related illnesses like hypertension and cardiovascular disease, and even improve mental health. With so many benefits of relaxation, it should be second nature to find time for it.
Relaxation is not always easy to do when there are a thousand things going on at once or when you're not sure what type of relaxation technique might work for you best. Sometimes all you need is a little bit of space and time for yourself. Even just ten minutes every day can make a difference in how you feel and what kind of day you'll have tomorrow.
Simple breathing exercises: This one's simple but powerful. Breathing exercises help regulate the nervous system and keep your body relaxed while aiding in reducing stress levels associated with high blood pressure, migraines, and other issues related to chronic stress.
Breathing exercises are also good to use as they calm the mind and settle the body down so that eventually you will be able to sleep better at night as well as wake up feeling more refreshed each morning, rather than exhausted from having slept poorly during the week.
Restorative Staycation
There are so many ways to take a break from the routine and get away from it all. Taking a staycation is one of them, and it can be a lot of fun. Set aside some time for yourself on your days off to do whatever you want. For some people, this means going out for an adventure; for others, it might mean staying in and not leaving the house.
If you don't have any ideas, think about what makes you happy or what you enjoy doing when you're relaxing at home. Look at your favourite activity online, in print, or on television to get some inspiration. A staycation doesn't have to be expensive and elaborate–just spend some time with yourself doing something that feels good and enjoyable.
One way to de-stress is by staying at home for a restorative staycation. When you're glued to your phone or computer, it's easy to forget about the outside world, about how spectacular nature can be and how much better off you are without any responsibilities.
Instead of going out, do something different. Buy a new book from your local bookstore or library. Chances are that you haven't read anything in a while and that there's a lot of great literature out there to discover.
Pick up a magazine that speaks to your interests and take in some information while enjoying the peace of your own home. If you have time, go on a walk outdoors and get some fresh air. If not, turn on the news and relax with your favorite podcast instead.
Unplug From Your Electronic Devices
Okay, so this is a no-brainer. When you're feeling overwhelmed with all of the things on your plate, it can be really tempting to skip out on unplugging. But if you want to feel relaxed, in order to reduce stress levels and make yourself more resilient against illness and disease, it's necessary to unplug from your electronic devices every now and then.
Not only is it important for your mental health that you take this necessary time away from technology, but it's also proven in research that there are huge benefits from unplugging your electronics regularly.
The best part about taking this time away is that when you come back to them later, the lights will be dimmer or the device won't have any power left; meaning you'll have an easier time disconnecting from them again and again.
While it's a great idea to try to de-stress by spending time with friends, family, or at the gym, sometimes you just need to sit down and zone out. And that doesn't necessarily mean walking into your room and turning on some Netflix or scrolling through Instagram.
Sometimes all you need is an activity that requires no thought, like taking a walk outside (a nice way to spend a Sunday morning), reading a book in bed, or cooking dinner for your family.
You can also do things like taking a bath, listening to music or podcasts while driving, sitting in front of the TV watching reruns of your favorite show, planting flowers in your garden, or writing letters.
Carve Out Some Alone Time
We've all had those moments where we feel really drained and stressed, but that's not the time to tell our kids, “I'll see you later,” or even, “You're grounded.” Take a break from your day-to-day routine and carve out some time for yourself.
Even if it's just ten minutes of meditation on the couch in between work meetings, you'll be amazed at how much better you'll feel.
This is also a great way to get into the habit of carving out some time for yourself by regularly taking a break from work and doing something relaxing like breathing exercises or reading.
A lot of people don't have the time to spend with themselves. They're too busy trying to get everything done and are constantly interrupted by life's demands.
This is understandable; a lack of balance is difficult when you have so much going on in your day. But carving out some time for yourself is really important if you want to de-stress and remove some of the stressors from your life. Even for just a few minutes, it can be incredibly helpful to focus solely on you and what makes you happy.
Create A List Of Things That Make You Happy And Calm
A great way to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety is to take a moment to create a list of things that make you happy and calm. This can be anything from reading your favorite book, watching your favorite TV show, or going for a morning jog.
Being able to look back on the positive things in your life is also important as it helps you focus on the good instead of dwelling on the pains of life. It also reminds you that there are still plenty of reasons to smile in this world. Having these things can help remind you that you have an entire lifetime ahead of you with endless opportunities to relax and enjoy yourself.
Another huge benefit of creating a list of things that make you happy is it provides another avenue for self-care. When we're stressed, we tend to forget about our own mental health and sometimes neglect our physical needs. Taking care of ourselves through these little tasks relieves some of the pressure while also doing something good for ourselves at the same time.
When you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, it can be helpful to create a list of things that make you happy and calm. Whether it's something as simple as taking a walk or meditating, or as complex as painting your nails or going on a dance party with your friends, anything that helps you feel grounded and centred is worth including in the mix.
Remove Clutter From Your Home
It can be hard to relax when you're surrounded by clutter. The act of decluttering your home can help you reduce stress because it makes your environment less cluttered and gives you more perspective on what is important in your life. Before you get started, make a list of everything that's cluttering up your space.
It doesn't matter if it's physical or mental clutter – simply writing out the things that are there and then deciding why they're there will help. After you've taken stock of what's in your space, start removing the things that don't serve any purpose or aren't necessary. You'll find that this process is surprisingly cathartic and liberating.
Indulge In An At-Home Massage
A massage is the ultimate way to release the tension in your body, and it's an easy fix for quick stress relief. Not only does it feel great, but it also has many health benefits as well, like easing pain and relieving insomnia. We can think of our body's muscles as analogous to rubber bands that are being stretched and pulling on each other, which leads to tightness and discomfort.
This is why massage therapy often targets the muscles in order to relieve tension and muscle stiffness. You can easily get a massage at home by following these five steps:
- Get comfortable You'll want to start off with a warm shower or bath before getting down to business–you'll need some lubrication.
- Begin by finding the most sensitive spot on your body and focus on that area while you slowly glide your hands all over your body.
- Apply more pressure when you're massaging these certain areas until they feel nice and relaxed before moving onto another spot.
- Include breathing exercises with every move so that you can clear your mind of any thoughts and worries during this time of relaxation.
- End by using gentle strokes to help bring everything back up to speed so you can leave the room refreshed and ready for whatever comes next.
Many people don't realize that there are actually many benefits to a self-massage. These include increased circulation, reduced inflammation, improved blood flow, and even mental health benefits like reduced anxiety. If you have the time to spare, it's a good idea to try it out for yourself. Plus, it's not hard at all to do.
There are many ways to massage the body, including using the hands or utilizing tools like a tennis racket or lacrosse ball. One of our favorite at-home massages is called Trigger Point Therapy (TPT). It uses slow and deep pressure on specific areas of the body known as trigger points.
TPT can be done with your own two hands or with certain tools such as an ice cube tray or the rolling pin with a towel wrapped around it. Try this technique by rubbing your thumb and index finger together in a circular motion over your forearms for five minutes. You'll feel relaxed and tingly after applying this treatment.
Enjoy A Long Soak In The Bath
If you're really having a hard time relaxing, try enjoying a long soak in the bathtub. The warm water and steam from the water will help you release tension and stress, especially after a long day at work or school.
The temperature of the water is also soothing for sore muscles, which can also help reduce pain. This is also a great way to relax if you're feeling too hot. Just make sure that your tub is big enough to accommodate your height.
Conclusion
There are so many ways to unwind and refresh yourself in your own home. Indulge in a long soak in the bath, take a staycation and unplug from your electronic devices. Take a moment to reflect on what makes you happy and calm and create a list of things that make you happy and calm. Be sure to remove clutter from your home so that you can enjoy your relaxing time to the fullest.
I trust you enjoyed this article on Best Tips To Relax At Home. Please stay tuned for more blog posts to come shortly. Take care!
JeannetteZ
>>>Please click here to read my all-inclusive article about Lessons That Will Teach You All About Stress<<<
>>>Are you interested in Natural Healing And Stress Relief Through Herbs? Please click here for my #1 Recommendation<<<
Your Opinion Is Important To Me
Thoughts? Ideas? Questions? I would love to hear from you. Please leave me your questions, experience, and remarks about this article on Best Tips To Relax At Home in the comments section below. You can also reach me by email at Jeannette@Close-To-Nature.org.
You might also enjoy these blog posts:
Easy Steps To Grow Papaya In Pots
5 Easy Steps Of Growing Fuchsia Flowers In Pots
Best Ways To Get Nature Therapy
