Unusual Ways to Relax Which You May Not Have Considered Before

Unusual Ways to Relax Which You May Not Have Considered Before

Modern life can be stressful! What do you do to relax when life is too hectic? We’ve all heard of the classics — having a hot bubble bath, meditating, having a glass of wine… these techniques might work for some of us or some of the time, but sometimes they just don’t do the trick.

If you’re struggling to unwind, it might be worth trying some alternative, more unusual ways to relax which you may not have considered before. Below are some suggestions that you could try:

• Forest Bathing

Forest bathing is an effective way to relax your mind by using nature. You simply walk through a beautiful forest, focussing on the sounds of the forest and its beauty. It’s thought that the trees release wood essential oils that can have a calming effect on people when breathed in. Forest bathing is called “shinrin yoku” in Japanese and is a popular way to induce a peaceful state using nature.

• Experiment with Scents

Scents are very powerful and can impact our moods in different ways. If relaxation is your aim, try a blend of essential oils designed to be calming and de-stressing. Using a reed diffuser or a mist are a simple and fuss-free options for adding beautiful, therapeutic scents to your home according to your mood.

• Declutter & Organise

This might be the last thing you feel like doing if you’re stressed but undertaking a small decluttering project can work wonder for your stress levels. Choose something you know you’ll be able to finish in a small amount of time — like a book shelf, your desk, the kitchen counters or a messy drawer for example — and organise and clean this chosen space. A clean and uncluttered space is relaxing and the feeling of achievement after finishing the task will help you relax too.

• Induce Laughter

Laughing is so good for us in many ways! It’s social and makes us happy but the physical act of laughing itself also calms your body and reduces stress-hormones while increasing health-enhancing hormones, improving our mood and making us feel better and happier.

If you’re feeling stressed, watch your favourite funny film, TV-series or stand-up comedian, phone the friend who always makes you laugh or look for funny things on Pinterest of YouTube.

• Lay on the Floor

This might seem odd, but a quick way to relax is to just lay down on the floor. I used to do this a lot when I was a teenager and still living at my parents’ house. There was an area in my childhood home perfect for this — just a big patch of wooden floor. I would just lay down and stretch out and soon found myself relax. Recently, I found out that it’s actually a yoga pose called Savasana too!

I hope these unusual ways to relax are helpful for you! Please share in the comments if you have any unique tricks that help you unwind.

Collaborative Article.