Float Pods
Floatation therapy has gained a lot of attention in the past few years. Also known as a sensory deprivation tank, floatation pods contain high levels of Epsom salt that allow the body to float effortlessly.
Users are closed inside a pod with no lights. Earplugs may also be offered to help give complete sensory deprivation. Sessions typically last for about an hour, although you have full control if you want to exit the pod earlier.
Floatation therapy can be deeply relaxing. It allows the body and mind to be completely quiet. In addition to mental benefits, float therapy can also be a rejuvenating physical practice. Floating takes stress off of your muscles and joints. Many people find temporary relief from chronic pain issues or injuries while using a float tank.
Floatation therapy is a lot like meditation because it allows your mind to relax and tune into what is most important to you.
Grounding
If you are feeling stressed, it may be time for you to get outside. We aren’t just talking about a walk through your neighborhood. Instead, try grounding!
Grounding is a technique that helps you connect with the earth and drastically reduce stress levels. The practice involves creating contact between your bare skin and the earth. This could come in the form of a barefoot walk through your backyard or simply lying on the ground.
Grounding, sometimes called ‘earthing,’ is built on the idea that the earth constantly gives off small electrical charges. When we remove barriers such as shoes and other clothing, our body can receive these small electrical signals.
While there isn’t much research on the practice, early studies indicate that grounding can reduce depression, anxiety, and physical pain.
Cooking
Because cooking is a necessary part of our daily lives, we often forget that it can be a great way to relax. The good news? You don’t need any particular skills in the kitchen to reap the benefits.
Stress can often come from feeling out of control. Cooking is a great way to regain a sense of control. Following a good recipe has simple, predictable results. Additionally, cooking requires the use of all of your senses. This can help give your body positive sensory input, reducing feelings of stress.
The end result is helpful too! Having a nutritious meal or a tasty baked good can be a great way to make sure your body is nourished, as well as your mind.
Tapping
Tapping, also known as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), has gained lots of attention lately. More and more people are using this method to help regulate emotions and change thought patterns.
EFT uses a similar method to traditional acupuncture. Both treatments rely on the body’s meridian points. Meridian points are spots on the body that are believed to help energy flow throughout the body. While acupuncture targets these points with needles, EFT uses gentle tapping with the fingers to balance out energy.
Practitioners of EFT focus on the problem they are facing and the desired outcome. They then use a specific set of tapping motions to let go of negative thoughts and reach acceptance.
While the research is new, studies have shown that EFT is an effective technique for combating anxiety and depression.
While you can certainly use tapping principles on yourself, we recommend seeking a specialist to help get you started and teach you technique.
Make Some Art
You don’t have to consider yourself an artist to reap the benefits of making art. Art is for everyone and a great way to help you relax!
Creating art is a great way to unwind at the end of the day. There are endless options, and all of them have similar benefits. Whether you are interested in painting, sculpting, knitting, or even just using a coloring book, you’ll find that it can be a great stress reliever.
Making a piece of art can be a powerful way to process your emotions. The piece you create can be a way to get all your stress out of your head and onto a canvas. Even if you are just mindlessly doodling, it can help take your mind off of other worries and focus on the task at hand.
Deep Clean
It’s hard to feel at ease when your living space is out of control. While cleaning may not necessarily feel relaxing to you, you’ll be amazed at how much a clean space can impact your mood.
Want to feel super relaxed? Choose one room of your house to totally deep clean. This means removing unnecessary clutter, sweeping and mopping the floors, washing the windows, etc. This will help give you a fresh start for the next day, as well as give your mind something else to focus on.
Learn Something New
When you are feeling stressed, it can be easy to default to watching Netflix or scrolling through your phone to numb your racing thoughts. However, these habits often leave you feeling unfulfilled, as if your time could be used better.
Instead, why not try learning something new? This does not have to be a labor-intensive process. Instead of tuning into the latest Hulu show at night, pull up a Youtube video about a topic you’ve always been interested in.
Whether you’re looking to create a garden bed, bake a new loaf of bread, or learn a new fitness skill, leaning into your interests will help you find clarity on what makes you happy.
Ice Bath
An ice bath may sound like the opposite of relaxing. Climbing into freezing cold water and sitting there for fifteen minutes? Seems more painful than anything else.
However, experts believe that an ice bath can give you many mental benefits as well as physical. Ice baths are typically uncomfortable at first and require users to focus on their breathing and thoughts as they get used to the cool water.
High-stress levels can keep you tossing and turning at night. Ice baths, though, have been proven to help promote deeper sleep. The shock of the cold water helps regulate your nervous system, leading to greater relaxation at bedtime.
Tackle Your To-Do List
Nothing causes stress quite like a mile-long to-do list. It’s a catch-22 situation. The to-do list stresses you out, so you avoid it, leading to more stress.
When you feel overwhelmed, search for the easiest tasks on your to-do list. Maybe it’s simply taking the trash out or replying to an email. Checking off little tasks will help your feel accomplished and allow you to relax.
Stand Up Straight
We all know posture can affect how others view us. But did you know that it can affect your mood?
Studies have shown that people who slouch experience lower self-esteem and higher stress levels compared to those who stand up straight.
When you are short on time, try holding your head up high, and see if your mood changes in half an hour!
What are your favorite ways to relax? Share with us in the comments below.
