Let’s set the record straight: relaxation doesn’t have to mean vacation. It isn’t necessary to save up thousands of dollars to sit on a white sand beach with cocktail in hand (although, that is appealing) to make all of your stresses disappear. This isn’t to say you can’t go on vacation, because you totally still can!
Learning how to relax in your daily life has a plethora of benefits. From improving your sleep at night to reducing your pain from headaches and backaches, you’ll feel the benefits as your daily stress is reduced. Practicing relaxation techniques can also leave you with more self-confidence and more fulfilling relationships.
If you’re not sure how to practice relaxation in everyday life, here are a couple of tips to relax your mind and body throughout the day.
Take a Chill Pill: Relaxation for Everyday Life
Relax The Mind
Meditation
People across the world have been practicing meditation for thousands of years. While there are many different types of meditation, they all typically aim to reduce stress and promote inner peace. For effective meditation, sit in a quiet place and clear your mind of all thoughts for around 30 minutes or so.
If you don’t know where to start, try these guided meditation exercises from the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center. We also recommend the Meditation app by Red Hammer Software for those of you who live life on the go.
Art Therapy
Tap into your creative side and try out art therapy. Expressing your emotions through art will help distract you from the stressors of everyday life, divert your focus, and can help you feel more fulfilled by giving you a hobby.
As with meditation, there are many different ways to integrate this technique into your life. Purchase a sketch pad, sit in a quiet place, and let your mind guide your tool across the paper. You can also mold clay or paint on canvas to reap the benefits of this relaxation method.
Reading
We’re big fans of reading here at GenTwenty. Stepping away from the everyday stress, reading takes you to a different universe that you can get lost in. Here are a few lists of our favorite books:
- The Top 18 Fiction Books Twenty-Somethings Should Read
- 10 Must-Read Books For The Summer
- 5 Classic Books That Never Go Out of Style
- 113+ Authors and Books To Explore In Your 20s
Relax The Body
Yoga
This technique requires you to make use of both your mind and body in order to manage stress and anxiety. While there are many different types of yoga to get involved in, they all involve a myriad of poses and deep breathing to achieve a relaxed state.
You can practice yoga at home with YouTubers such as Tara Stiles, by following a DVD program like Yoga for Beginners, or by finding a class near you.
Massage
We know this is the one you’ve been waiting for! Getting a massage typically has the reputation of being an indulgent behavior as it can be costly. However, treating yourself to a massage may actually be just what you need.
Research has shown that massage is beneficial for anxiety, headaches, insomnia, and nerve pain, among other ailments.
Consider a membership with Massage Envy for only $60 per month–well worth it considering you also have access to the spa as well as a variety of member benefits, including roll-over massage minutes.
Play
You know what’s something we often forget about as adults? Playing. Play is a way to practice healthy escapism and get back to our childhoods. Better yet, it’s a way to just have fun! Check out my book, The Kidult Handbook, for tons of play-inspiration!
Play can be reinvigorating for your mind, as well. Engaging in puzzles like a crossword is a great way to not only get some distraction from the stressful thoughts that might otherwise cloud your head, but it works out our brain, keeping it flexible and active. It can be the the perfect mental reset to fit into a lunch break.
If none of these options appeal to you, pick a soothing bubble bath like this one from Philosophy called Pure Grace. Light some candles and relax all of the stress away in your makeshift home-spa. Happy relaxing!
About the Author
Nicole Booz is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of GenTwenty, GenThirty, and The Capsule Collab. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and is the author of The Kidult Handbook (Simon & Schuster May 2018). She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and three sons. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s probably hiking, eating brunch, or planning her next great adventure.
Website: genthirty.com