Relaxation Techniques

We can all use a few good relaxation techniques, because stress is more than just unpleasant. It's dangerous to your health. Meditation can help relieve that stress, but what if you don't have the time or motivation? That's when you need these ten simple ways to relax.

1. Start laughing. From your own experience you know that this helps you relax, right? Go find the guy that knows all the best jokes, or just find something funny in front of you.

2. Put on some relaxing music. Have a copy of your favorite relaxation CD at the office, in the car, or wherever you'll need it most.

3. Get out of the room. This can really help if the things in the room or related to it are triggering your stressful thoughts. Why not get out for a little while?

4. Breath deeply through your nose. Five deep breaths. Try closing your eyes and paying attention only to your breathing while doing this. It is like a mini-meditation, and one of the most effective of the quick relaxation techniques.

5. Give someone a hug. Giving one means getting one, and as long as it's from somebody you don't mind hugging you, this really can be relaxing.

6. Interrupt your routine. Stop to talk to that guy sleeping on the bench, or eat lunch on the roof. Doing anything that breaks you out of your habitual patterns can relieve stress.

7. Take a hot shower. Hot water relaxes your muscles, and any break from more stressful activities can help too. Some people find an alternating hot and cold shower even more relaxing.

8. Try chamomile tea. Chamomile seems to have a calming effect on the nerves. Alternately, any hot tea without caffeine may be relaxing.

9. Watch your mind. If you can spot the stressors lurking just below the surface (hunger, worry, a phone call you need to make), you can resolve them and feel more relaxed. Practice this mindfulness exercise a little and it will be one of your favorite relaxation techniques.

10. Walk. Walking is one of the best relaxation techniques if you have at least ten minutes to spare. Find a pretty place to walk while you're at it.

Of course, you can change yourself over time, so you're naturally more relaxed all of the time. However, if the thought of the work involved in this just stresses you more, you might have to take it slow. Why not start with one or two of the relaxation techniques above?

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