Top tips for relaxation

Relaxation helps to reduce stress and anxiety and improve your mental wellbeing; this in turn will enable you to manage any challenges that come your way. Try out our top tips on relaxation.

Pause for thought

Introduce small moments of relaxation into your day. Take a moment to observe the natural rhythm of your breathing. Focus on the here and now, letting your thoughts come and go without becoming caught up in them. Concentrate only on the present moment.

Muscle relaxation

Start by gently breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth, keeping the pace slow and regular. Slowly tense then relax all the muscles in your body, starting at your head and working down to your toes. Afterwards take some time to focus on how your body feels.

Meditation

Meditation and relaxation apps can be a great way to unwind. Try doing this twice a day, once before getting up and once before going to sleep. This will help reduce any tension, leaving you feel more in control of life’s stresses.

Exercise

Practicing gentle exercise like yoga, tai-chi or Pilates, or taking a walk in the fresh air can give you time to unwind your body and mind. Exercise also releases endorphins, the ‘feel good’ hormone, which can help you to relax.

Listen to music

Listening to your favourite music can help you to switch off. Tracks with a slower tempo, or designed with relaxation in mind, are very helpful when you want to unwind.

Unplug electronic devices

Technology has moved a long way forward and we rely on electronic devices more than ever. Social media, emails, text messages, notifications etc. can bombard us 24/7 leaving us little time to switch off. This can induce an undercurrent of stress so it is important that we switch off from our devices for a period of time daily.

Practice

Being relaxed does not come easily for a lot of people. Don’t worry, just keep practising and you will soon get the hang of it. Ensure that when you practice relaxation you are in a warm place, free from distraction or any interruptions.  Don’t worry if some of these techniques don’t work for you, just enjoy the ones that do!