Ways to Relax

Stress is completely normal, but prolonged stress is not good for health. Knowing how to relax not only keeps the body healthy, but also helps keep the passion and joy in life. If you don’t know how to relax, check out the helpful tips in this article to get you started.

Table of Contents

Rest.

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Short breaks during the day can make a big difference. When you go to work or school, try taking a 5-10 minute break to stretch, or even read an interesting book. Doing this every 2-3 hours is a way to calm your thoughts and give your brain time to rest. ^{[1] X Trusted Source Mind Go to Source}

This is extremely important for long study sessions or when you have to stay up all night. Giving your mind a break for a few minutes can help you focus longer and work harder.

Focus on the breath.

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Slows heart rate and breathing rate. Sit somewhere comfortable with your back straight. Breathe in deeply through your nose so that your abdomen rises instead of your chest. Exhale slowly through your mouth as you count down from 5. ^{[2] X Trusted Source HelpGuide Go to source}

Try doing this for 5-10 minutes until you feel relaxed.
This is a great technique to use when you’re feeling anxious or stressed.

Visualize yourself relaxing somewhere.

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Relax with your senses. When you feel stressed, close your eyes and picture yourself at the beach or out in nature. Use all your senses to focus on what you can hear, touch, smell, see and taste there. Think of positive things to relax your mind and body. ^{[3] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

Your happy land can be anywhere you like. For example, a picture of a house by a lake, or somewhere in the mountains.

Immersed in nature.

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Spend time outdoors to clear your mind. You can take a walk around the neighborhood, go to the park near your house, or go hiking on a new route. Listen to the sounds of nature and admire the beauty all around. ^{[4] X American Heart Association Trusted Source Go to Source}

Use your time in nature for a hike rather than a purposeful walk. You just allow yourself to be free to go anywhere without having a specific place to be able to relax to the fullest.

Take a warm bath.

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Soak in a soapy bath to relax your whole body. Prepare a warm bath and add some scented soap or bath salts. Turn on relaxing music and light some candles, then lean back against the edge of the tub and relax.

Bathing is a great way to be alone (especially if you have young children). You can soak and relax as much as you like (as long as you have time).

Make a relaxing drink.

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Drink warm drinks without caffeine. A cup of herbal tea or hot milk with honey can really help you relax and unwind. Drinking a relaxing drink every night can help you fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply.

Caffeinated drinks such as coffee and carbonated water can increase anxiety levels. If you’re stressed, don’t add caffeine to your drink.

Be with the pet.

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Pet or play with the pet. You and your pet are sure to love this! You can even talk to your pet about the day’s happenings or talk about the stress and anxiety you’re experiencing. Although they can’t talk to you, you’ll feel better soon after. ^{[5] X Trusted Source HelpGuide Go to Source}

If you don’t have a pet, try asking your friends if you can be with their pet.
Now, many cities also have cat cafes for you to come and play with your cats for a small fee.

Write diary.

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Try venting your feelings into a private place. You just need to spend 5 or 10 minutes a day writing a few lines in your diary. You can write about how you feel, what you did during the day, or what you are looking forward to in the future. Writing all your thoughts down on paper can help you process them faster than keeping them to yourself. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Make sure the log is placed in a discreet place where no one can find it. If your sibling is curious, you should put the diary in a locker so they can’t find it.
You can also use a journal to write down things you’re grateful for and remind yourself of the things you’re grateful for.

Creative.

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Tap on your artist section to relax. You can color, draw, photograph, apply makeup, embroider, bake, or play an instrument. Try not to focus on the result but just enjoy the process. ^{[7] X Trusted Source Mind Go to Source}

If you want to try something new but don’t know where to start, try searching online for tutorials on how to do it.

Loosen every muscle part

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Tighten and relax each muscle in your body. Start by focusing on the right foot. Squeeze the entire foot muscles and hold for about 10 seconds, then release. Do the same for the left foot. Gradually work your way up to your entire body by contracting and relaxing each muscle group. ^{[8] X Trusted Source HelpGuide Go to Source}

As you relax your muscles, think about how light and relaxed your body feels.

Practice meditation

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Stop thinking to relieve stress. Sit in a comfortable position and try not to think about anything. Focus on your breath, feel your body, and notice if your muscles are tight. Try to meditate for about 5-10 minutes a day to reduce stress. ^{[9] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

If you have trouble, you can find guided meditation videos on YouTube to practice.

Yoga.

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Stretch your muscles while relaxing. Shavasana, also known as corpse pose, will help you feel relaxed. Lie on your back on the floor with your legs extended and your hands on either side of your body. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing while lying down. Try to spend a little time doing yoga every morning to relieve stress.

If you’ve never done yoga before, follow along with an online beginner’s video tutorial.

Try aromatherapy.

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Use essential oils to calm the nervous system. When you feel stressed, add a few drops of essential oil to the water, then put it in the nebulizer. Turn on the essential oil diffuser, breathe deeply and relax, and focus on the aroma. Continue to breathe deeply until the scent is gone or you feel more relaxed. ^{[10] X Cleveland Clinic Trusted Source Go to Source}

If you don’t have an essential oil diffuser, add a few drops of essential oil to a bowl of hot water. The next step is to inhale the steam deeply.
Lavender oil, chamomile oil, sage leaf oil, and rose oil all have relaxing scents.
Always dilute essential oils because concentrated doses can be harmful.

Participate in biofeedback therapy.

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A therapist can monitor your body’s response to stress. Try making an appointment with a mental health professional to attend a therapy session. During the procedure, the therapist attaches electrical sensors to various parts of your body to monitor your heart rate, sweat glands, and brain waves. You will hear a beep and see the lights flash, and the therapist will monitor your response. ^{[11] X Trusted Source Mayo Clinic Go to Source}

At the end of the session, the therapist can tell you other techniques to relax the muscles that respond to the sensors. The goal of the session is to take the information you’ve learned and apply it at home so you can relax whenever you feel stressed.

Practice mindfulness.

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Focus on the present moment. If you feel worried about something that happened in the past or will happen in the future, stop thinking. Try to focus on what you’re doing in the present moment, even if it’s trivial. Being present helps you to de-stress and gradually feel more relaxed. ^{[12] X Trusted Source American Psychpogical Association Go to Source}

If you have trouble practicing mindfulness, think about what you might perceive from your surroundings. How do you feel about the outfit you are wearing? What do you hear right now? What are you seeing?

Stop using technology.

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Phones and computers can really cause stress. If you feel exhausted, turn off electronic devices for at least 1 hour. During this time, you can go outside, read a book, or spend time with friends. Only turn on the computer when you feel more relaxed. ^{[13] X Trusted Source University of Wisconsin Health Go to Source}

You’d better take a break from using social media. Constantly surfing social media can increase stress and anxiety levels.

Advice

If you have trouble relaxing, a mental health professional can help. ^{[14] X Trusted Source HelpGuide Go to source}

Steps