Relaxation is something that we don’t talk about, or do enough of. With benefits ranging from improving concentration to reducing muscle aches, relaxation is a vital skill. However, trying the many different techniques, only to find that none of them were working for me, was a very frustrating experience. It made me wonder, who else is struggling with this experience? I think it is important to discuss our struggles with topics such as this, so that we can help each other find the best path. I want to get the conversation started, by sharing my go-to techniques for finding relaxation amongst stress and anxiety.
Useful Techniques
As my stress, anxiety, sadness, and other difficult feelings come and go, I always find myself wanting to get better at relaxing. And recently I have been trying some new ways of finding relaxation in everyday activities. The most stressful part of this, was feeling anxious or stressed, and trying a relaxation technique that didn’t work for me. Every time a technique would fail to help me relax, I would only feel more anxious or more stressed. I realized that practicing relaxation more often, especially during times when I wasn’t stressed or having hard feelings, was key.
After having this “aha” moment, I started practicing relaxation way more often, and only when I was feeling good. This helped me to find the techniques that work for me without the disappointment.
I started with the deep breathing technique, because I already knew how to do it and that it was something that made me feel better in the past. I also tried self-soothing with hot tea and taking hot showers, muscle relaxation by laying on the floor, yoga, and meditation podcasts. I used each of these techniques throughout my day for a couple of months and got comfortable with how I needed each one to work for me. Eventually, as hard feelings continued to come and go, I was ready to put these relaxation techniques into action.
Recommended Reading: 5 Step Ultimate Relaxation Technique
So, how do I relax? The truth is, it changes depending on the day. However, no matter what hard feeling I am experiencing, when I need to relax, I focus on three steps. First, I give my feeling a name and say it out loud. Whether I am sad, excited, anxious, tired, or having mood swings, naming my feelings helps me take responsibility for why I am feeling that way. Then, saying that feeling out loud, gives me a sense of control over what I can do to let it go and relax. The second step, is implementing a relaxation technique. I always use one of the techniques that I am comfortable with and know works to avoid backtracking. The final step, is easing my way out of the relaxation technique and back into my day. This step is essential for me, because it helps me stay relaxed while I refocus on the task at hand or what may have caused the hard feeling in the first place. These three steps, naming the feeling, using a known technique, and refocusing, are how I relax.
Recommended Exercise: Naming the Feelings – Guided Meditation
My Top 5 Relaxation Techniques
Although it is vastly different depending on the feeling and the person, there are a few relaxation techniques that I swear by.
- Breathing Exercises
- Guided Meditation
- Aromatherapy
- Self Soothing
- Taking a Walk/Leaving the Environment
Check out my go-to guided meditation podcasts here!
Benefits
The benefits of relaxation are endless and very powerful for both mind and body. Some benefits that I have found in learning how to relax are improved concentration, overall emotional well-being, energy and drive, patience, and even heart rate. I have found that, like most healthy habits, staying consistent with your relaxation practices helps a lot in feeling the mental and physical benefits of relaxation. So whether you find yourself needing to relax or not, try making relaxation a part of your daily routine. It can take as little as five minutes, or as long as you want.
Recommended Reading: How Does Relaxation Benefit the Mind and Body
By getting the relaxation conversation started, my hope is that we can help one another in finding the best path to our preferred techniques. Talking about hard feelings and our struggles with finding solutions to those feelings requires vulnerability, which is scary. I want this to be a safe space for all of us to achieve mental and physical well-being. What are some techniques you have tried or want to try after reading this?
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