Top 10 Relaxation Techniques You Should Learn
Relaxation is key to peace of mind whenever we’re having a bad day at work, when we feel we have too much on our plate or when we get into an argument with someone. And to get you started on the path towards stress relief, below are the top 10 relaxation techniques for anxiety you should learn:
1. Press your fingers.
According to Success Under Stress book author Sharon Melnick, applying pressure on the space found between our second and third knuckles or the joints at the base of our pointer and middle fingers can actually help in providing us with a feeling of calm. Melnick said that doing this will activate a nerve that can loosen the area around the heart, which can in turn take away that fluttery feeling we get whenever we are nervous.
2. Press your wrist.
Another form of acupressure that works when you need stress relief is to measure three fingers from your wrist, and then to make your thumb apply firm pressure to the point where your third finger touches your wrist. Make sure that the pressure you apply is enough to interrupt the normal blood flow but not too much that it causes pain. Hold this position and slowly knead your thumb in a circular motion for around 2 minutes. Repeat the procedure with your other wrist and feel yourself start to relax. This procedure also works for those who are feeling nauseated.
3. Take a walk in the park.
Any forms of exercise can promote the endorphins in your body to work and reduce your stress hormones but walking specifically in a park or in a place where there are greenery can place your body in a state of meditation or make you have involuntary attention, a phase where our attention is being held by something but it still allows us to reflect.
4. Eat a banana.
Eating a banana can not only give us a burst of energy when we have low energy but studies show that it can also protect our body from the effects of stress and the potassium found in it also helps in regulating blood pressure, which in turns helps us avoid risks of having a heart attack or stroke.
5. Sip green tea.
Stressed and feeling angry? Sip green tea! Green tea contains L-Theanine, a chemical that helps in relieving anger. So take the time to boil water and pour yourself a cup or two of tea on one of those stressful situations.
6. Apply cold water on your pulse points.
Instead of applying perfume, try getting cold water and splash some on pulse points like your wrists and behind your earlobes. Because of the major arteries located in these areas, cooling them can help in cooling down our whole body.
7. Brush your hair.
Doing repetitive motions such as brushing your hair, doing the laundry, etc. can help you to ease down and relax.
8. Embrace the sun.
Apply that sunblock and then head out to embrace the sun for an instant pick-me-up. Bright lights are found to be effective in treating individuals who are depressed, and what better way to get bright lights than to soak in the natural rays of the sun!
9. Smell an orange.
Oranges are not only good sources of Vitamin C for fighting sicknesses, as reports show that the smelling citruses can decrease norepinephrine, which are hormones that are activated during stressful situations.
10. Lie down.
Ever witnessed a toddler crying and watched as his mother turn the baby in a lying position and he immediately stops crying even without being handed a feeding bottle? Lying down can similarly be calming for adults, as well. And if you want to be able to lie down without having to go to your bed in your room, then get this uber cool inflatable couch for hanging out on sale today at Supreme Deals.
