For anyone who’s ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, and unappetizingly anxious, the ability to relax and stay relaxed can be learned. The art of relaxation is something we learn as children — it involves staying calm under challenging circumstances, such as a tense meeting at work. The ability to focus, centre yourself, and remain relaxed are all skills that can be practised and improved with time. So what if you’re like most people and have a hard time relaxing? Are you afraid of being still? Are you easily overstimulated? Have you developed anxiety around stressors in your life? If so, the source of your stress might be imbalanced. Fortunately, there are many ways to ease the tension from your mind and body without attempting to heal them altogether. You can find the Relaxation techniques from healthestimates.com which help you feel better from the inside out! Read on for more information about how these methods work and when they might be helpful for you.
Table of Contents
What is Relaxation?
The ability to stay calm, relaxed, and in control of your thoughts and actions is a crucial skill that many lacks. Relaxation increases your breathing volume and lowers your heart rate to allow your brain to function more efficiently. The more you practice this skill, the easier it becomes. You can practice relaxation at any time, and it’s easiest when you’re in a relaxed state of mind. When you’re in a relaxed state of mind and your brain is less engaged, you’re more likely to be in a state of wakefulness. Specifically, you’re more likely to be in a state of “flow” or “equilibrium” when performing a task than when you’re not. Your attention is focused solely on the here and now when you’re inflow. You might think about the past or the future, but not much else. In a flow state, you don’t need to “think” about anything in particular but rather “here and now”.
Why Does Being Still Feel Bad?
The root of the problem is likely psychological, so identifying what’s causing you stress is first. Many people have trouble relaxing because they’re worried about their family or work situations or dealing with stressed-out friends or loved ones. Once you know where the pressure is coming from, you can work to calm the source of your anxiety. Unfortunately, the more stressed you are, the harder it will be to calm down. Once you start breathing more slowly and deeply, you’re likely to be “in the zone” more often. It will be harder to focus on anything else because your attention will be so entire — a good thing!
How to Find the Right State of Mind for Relaxation
Once you know why it’s so hard to relax, the next step is to find the right state of mind for relaxation. Here are a few general rules to help you:
- Find a quiet, comfortable place where you feel safe and secure.
- Set a timer for 30 minutes.
- Imagine that you’re being relaxed.
- Imagine that you’re entirely focused on your breathing and relaxing.
- Imagine that you’re putting one foot in front of the other.
The more vivid and in-depth your imagery, the easier it will be to focus on breathing and relaxing.
Simple Self-Care Strategies for Finding the Right State of Mind for Relaxation
Here are five simple self-care strategies to help you find the right state of mind for relaxation:
Exercise: Aerobic exercise is a proven stress-buster that increases serotonin in the body, making you feel happy, focused, and creative. Staying active during the day will help you stay relaxed at night and reduce stress-related health problems.
Meditate: Contemplation is a powerful way to calm the mind, allowing you to focus on one thing at a time. Meditating for five minutes will help you relax, clear your mind, and start the day with a positive attitude. Take a chill pill. If you’re experiencing stress and anxiety, try taking anti-anxiety medication. However, if you’re afraid that this will dull your sense of taste or make you feel nauseous, take a small pill before meals to give yourself a break from the full flavour of the food.
Get a journal. Writing down what you’re feeling and how you feel helps you process the information more effectively and will help you identify cause and effect more precisely. When you write about your experiences, you’ll be more likely to realize that you didn’t do something because you haven’t done it before — you’ve forgotten about doing it.
The Importance of Enough Sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is perhaps the most excellent way to reduce stress and increase your health. Why? Because your body functions at its best when your brain is relaxed, you need to get enough sleep to function optimally. If you’re struggling to get enough sleep, your ability to relax will be negatively affected. If you’re not getting enough sleep, you’ll likely notice that your muscles are tense, and you may even start to feel “jittery” or “wired” during the day. This is normal, and it’s a good sign that your body is getting enough sleep. However, if you’re not getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep, you need to pay attention to your body and mind to figure out what’s going on.
Tips to Help You Stay Still and Calm During a Panic Attack
The more you panic, the more you’re likely to feel and think about the situation you find yourself in. Breathe in slowly for five seconds while your thoughts are “grounded”. Hold your breath for five more seconds while thinking about why you’re panicking and what you can do to stop it. Practising this will help you reduce the intensity of your feelings while still increasing your awareness of them. Stay hydrated. We all require water to live, but many don’t drink enough water because it’s difficult to drink when you’re not thirsty. Drinking water and other hydration solutions can be difficult when under stress, so having a small snack like candy or nuts or a small glass of milk before bed can help you stay alert and focused for more extended periods. Exercise. Physical activity is proven to reduce stress and anxiety. It can also improve your sleep quality to fall asleep more quickly and wake up feeling alert and refreshed. If you’re feeling overstimulated, exercise can help you calm down, clear your mind, and improve your sleep.
Conclusion
Although it can be tempting to give up when things aren’t going well, it’s important to remember that you can change and do it. The key is to take small steps in the right direction and stay committed to your goals. With just a few adjustments to your lifestyle, you can lower your risk of developing anxiety and stress-related disorders, improve your sleep quality, and feel better overall.