We all lead busy lives and stress often seems to be a constant. Whether you’re worrying about a big project coming up at work or simply stressing about what to cook for dinner, your mind is usually always working overtime. When you finally come home for the day, the last thing you want to do is find more things to worry about. If you’re constantly agonizing about the future, you’ll have a hard time enjoying the present and you’ll end up missing out on some amazing experiences.
Although you can’t expect to completely eliminate stress from your life, there are simple things you can do when you come home from work to relax your mind and give it a break. Mental relaxation is just as important as physical relaxation for your long-term health and wellness, so take the time to give your mind a break for at least 20 to 30 minutes a day.
Read on to learn how…
The Benefits of Mental Relaxation
Relaxation is a state of mind where you feel calm and can step away from your stress. The obvious benefits of taking time to relax your mind include a reduction in symptoms of anxiety and more stable mood, but relaxation can also have some interesting health benefits.
Here are some of the benefits of mental relaxation:
- Lowering your heart rate
- Stabilizing your blood pressure
- Improving your concentration
- Reducing chronic fatigue
- Resolving anger and frustration
- Boosting your confidence
- Smoother and regular digestion
- Improved quality of sleep
- Reduced muscle tension and joint pain
- Slowing your breathing rate
When it comes to mental relaxation, the strategies that work for someone else may not work for you. You are an individual and you’ll need to try out different options to find out what helps you let go of the day’s stress and relax when you get home. Read on to learn about some options to try out.
The Top 44 Ways to Relax Your Mind
That first step through the door when you come home should feel like you’re stepping out of the day’s stresses and into a calming and soothing environment. Mental relaxation is a state of mind and it takes some work to cultivate it. Fortunately, there are plenty of simple things you can do to ease your mind into a state of relaxation and, eventually, it will become a habit.
Here are the top 44 ways to relax your mind when you come home from work:
- Sit back and focus on deep breathing exercises – count your inhales and exhales over 5 seconds.
- Engage in mindfulness meditation while taking a walk, enjoying a meal, or simply sitting quietly.
- Spend 20 to 30 minutes reading a book or reading some poetry.
- Soak in a warm bath for 30 minutes while listening to relaxing music.
- Light a LAFCO New York fragranced candle and enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy.
- Engage in progressive relaxation, relaxing one muscle at a time.
- Sit back and visualize yourself in a calm or soothing surrounding.
- Grab your preferred artistic medium and create a painting or drawing.
- Nibble on some dark chocolate (bonus, it will also satisfy your sweet tooth).
- Brew yourself some chamomile tea and sip it slowly, savoring the warmth.
- Set up your LAFCO New York reed diffuser and sit nearby, breathing in the fragrance.
- Spend some time preparing a meal or baking your favorite dessert.
- Lie down on the couch or in bed and cover your eyes to spend a few minutes just relaxing.
- Relieve tension in your hands by massaging the webbing between each finger then clench and release your fists and flex your wrists a few times.
- Cool yourself down by splashing some cold water in your face and let your stress slip away.
- Give yourself a scalp massage – ideally, in a hot shower with some scented conditioner.
- Go outside and take a slow walk in the sunshine, taking in the warmth.
- Spritz your room with LAFCO New York room mist for an instant boost of aromatherapy.
- Lie down on the floor and prop your legs up against the wall and just breathe for a few minutes.
- Find a local yoga studio and spend some time stretching and trying different poses.
- Write out all of your anxious thoughts and feelings, releasing them as you do.
- Distract your mind by completing a crossword puzzle or another brain game.
- Spend some time cuddling on the couch with a furry friend.
- Cue up your favorite funny videos or a comedy TV show and laugh away the frustration.
- Call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while and enjoy reconnecting.
- Start planning a vacation or a weekend getaway and put it on your calendar.
- Make a list of personal triumphs from the day or write about one thing you did well.
- Grab a blanket and head to your local park to spend some time relaxing in nature.
- Take a quick nap to reset your mind and relax your body more completely.
- Indulge yourself in a massage or have a close friend or family member give you a back rub.
- Brew a mug of hot chocolate or another warm beverage and sip slowly.
- Massage your feet by rolling a tennis ball around with them, one at a time.
- Write a postcard or letter to someone you miss or a thank-you card for someone special.
- Call and schedule an appointment for something you’ve been putting off to get it off your mind.
- Head to the grocery store and pick up ingredients for a healthy dinner, then cook at home.
- Gather up all the loose change you’ve been saving then count and roll it.
- Peel an orange and let the fresh scent lift your spirits, then enjoy the delicious fruit.
- Do a craft project with whatever materials you can find around the house.
- Find a guided meditation video online or practice guided imagery exercises to relax.
- Put on some of your favorite music and dance away your anxiety and frustration.
- Spend some time organizing a room in your house or simply emptying out your junk drawer.
- Wash your face, really taking the time to enjoy the experience.
- Recite the alphabet backwards slowly or count backwards from 100 in your head to calm your erratic mind.
- Hop in your car and drive to a place you’ve never been before and see what you discover.
If all else fails and you need a simple way to soothe your mind into a state of relaxation, simply turn off the lights in the room you’re in, light a scented candle and close your eyes. Try to clear your mind of negative thoughts and simply focus on the luxurious scents. Count a couple of slow breaths in your head, picturing your stress flowing out of your body with each exhale. After just a few minutes of this simple practice, you should find yourself feeling much calmer, both mentally and physically.