Relaxation Tips
Since stress has been affecting my health, my quality of sleep, and my state of mind a lot lately, I put together a list of the best tips I have found to help me relax.
Take a long bath
My new apartment has a spacious garden-style tub (and fixed water bill!) that I use all the time to unwind. My rule is that if I’m in a hurry, I take a shower, but if I have time to relax I take a bath. I always linger and focus on deep relaxation.
Remember Pavlov’s dogs? Pavlov rang a bell every time he fed the dogs, and pretty soon the dogs would salivate to the sound of the bell alone. Try it with your bath – every time you sink into the warm water, your mind will remember all the past relaxing baths, and this will help you unwind even faster.
Do some yoga
I’m fortunate enough to have a gym membership that gives me free classes. The only type I’ve tried so far is yoga, and I’m so thrilled with it that I haven’t bothered trying other kinds of classes like pilates.
I’ve found that I don’t mentally relax very much during the yoga, but afterwards when my muscles are all stretched and exercised I feel so physically relaxed that my mind is at ease. As I learn more and get better at practicing the poses, I find that I am able to relax more and more during the classes themselves. It’s a really wonderful habit that I plan to continue practicing for the rest of my life.
Buy some good props
Go ahead, splurge a little. If you choose the right purchases, you won’t even feel guilty about the money well spent. Things like bath pillows, scented lotions and imported chocolate might just bring you the little lift you need to relax in a big way. I have a list of relaxing products if you need some suggestions.
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