How chilled out are you? Do you easily relax or do you find yourself being tightly wound a lot of the time? If you find that you struggle to relax a lot of the time, you should definitely think about some of the ways that you can chill out and relax a bit. Here are some of the ways to do so.
Why Do We Need to Relax?
Many people think that they can get by without major periods of relaxation, but this could not be further from the truth. When we allow ourselves to get too stressed, we put our bodies through a lot. Our muscles tense up, our minds race, and we can find ourselves feeling exhausted. Ever noticed that your body can ache after a stressful day? That is because you have been tensing it, and it is now able to relax and unwind a little. Your body needs rest!
When we are relaxed, our blood circulation can improve. This energises and reinvigorates us, and gets us ready to face more challenges. It can also quieten our minds and can help to relieve any stress and anxiety that might be weighing down on us. No matter what, you need to make sure that you are getting in some crucial relaxation time.
While modern trends like yogic philosophy and forward helix piercing benefits blood circulation and relieves life stresses, there are so many simpler ways you could do to achieve ultimate relaxation.
Sleeping
The first place you should always check when you want to relax is your sleep patterns. Sleep is where our body does most of its repair work, and it is key in ensuring that you are going to have a good day when you get up.
Do you consider yourself to be a good sleeper? If you are the sort of person who can let their head hit a pillow and then bounce up again in the morning, you might be getting plenty of rest. If not, you could try looking to sleep science to try to find an answer. By using sleep science, you might be able to gain an accurate picture of how you rest – a picture that you will then be able to change and improve to ensure that you are getting the best rest possible.
Exercise
It might seem a little counterintuitive to exert your body when you need to relax, but there are actually several benefits to it. Once you have raised your heartbeat, your body will flush with certain chemicals that will help you to relax and feel energised. If you like to workout in the morning, you can often find that you have more of a spring in your step than if you were to not exercise.
Exercise can also help to quiet a busy mind. Many people enjoy working out – whether they are running, swimming, lifting weights, or playing a sport – as it allows them to place their cares to one side and focus on something else in the present. For them, it almost becomes a form of meditation and it serves as a great way to relax.
Reading
You might not consider yourself to be much of a reader, but you might also be missing out on a great way to relax. This is a chance for you to sit still, maybe for no more than thirty minutes, and truly chill out and lose yourself in a good book.
One of the biggest misconceptions about reading is that you only have to read books of literary value. Not everyone needs to tackle War and Peace or Moby Dick when they read! If you want to read quick and easy novellas or pulp fiction, go ahead! You might not even want to read fiction, but finding some non-fiction will allow you to get the relaxation time you need and learn at the same time!
Puzzles
Many people don’t want to relax with a book, but they still find that they need something to do to make them sit still and relax. If you are one such person, you should have a look at puzzles. These will help an inquisitive mind to flex their mental muscles, keeping eyes and hands busy while the rest of the body relaxes.
There are so many options out there to choose from when it comes to puzzles too. You might like a humble crossword or wordsearch, or you might want to try a sudoku. There are plenty of puzzle apps too that could be a great option if you want something to do on a commute. For some people who are used to being on the go all the time, a small activity like a puzzle can really help them to chill out and relax for a little while.
Whether you can chill out in a second or you are the most tightly wound person you know, you need to make sure that you are able to relax. Find some techniques that can help you, and make sure that you are getting the relaxation that you need.
