11 Ways to relax your busy mind

The stuff going on in our world has the ability to make us anxious, disquieted and potentially rather worried. We all know that worrying is, as Mary Schmich put it, “About as useful as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum”. (Please have a look at Mary’s poem in the link below. It’s really rather lovely!)

Worrying solves nothing yet it can be a powerful force to be reckoned with. Worrying makes us anxious. Anxiousness makes it difficult to relax. Relaxation is exactly what we need in this crazy world!

There are numerous tried and tested methods from deep breathing and yoga to taking long walks in nature or spending time connecting with those close to us. But what do we do when these traditional routes to relaxation elude us or simply aren’t working for us?

And more importantly how do we recognise our beautiful individuality & appreciate that we are all going through emotions that we haven’t encountered before. How do we help ourselves to see that just because someone else raves about a technique doesn’t mean it’s right for us?

Where do we go and what can we do to find relaxation and a quiet mind?

Here are some not so well known however incredibly potent ways that you can try to enjoy some relaxation and find some quiet mind space:

• Boogey to a Beat!

Dancing helps you get out of your head and into your body in such a delicious way I firmly believe it should be compulsory in life! Listening to music you love and moving in a totally free way without thinking or being judged by others is an amazing way to boost your mood, get some exercise which changes your state of mind and inject some fun into your day.

Do it: Set a timer for five minutes, play your favourite songs, and let go! Dance in your kitchen, in the bathroom, dance in the garden. Dance with others or dance alone with no one around! Dance wherever you feel comfortable and then see how you feel afterwards.

• Squeezability:

Getting a massage can be the ultimate relaxation tool but when you can’t get to the Spa or you simply want a go-to recipe for relaxation give yourself the gift of a home massage.

Enjoy this: Bring your hands together behind your neck and, with the bottom of your palms, gently apply pressure to each side of your spinal cord. Gently rub the area at the base of your neck and bring your hands out and around towards the front of your neck.

•  Giggling’s Good:

You already know that I am a huge advocate of laughter as it has a variety of health benefits, including reducing stress and easing muscle tension. While it may not feel so easy to chuckle when you’re having a tough time, prioritising some laughter time can really benefit you. You can choose to look at my videos on how to laugh more: https://thelaughterworks.com/videos/ or you can try other ways to increase your laughter, decreased your stress and encourage your relaxation.

Try this: Watch my videos or go to a traditional Laughter Yoga workshop or if these seem a stretch too far then make a list of funny films or Utube clips or even simply the sounds of someone else laughing and have them easily accessible when you need to encourage your mind and body to relax.

• Get it Sorted!

‘Tidy home, tidy mind’ is a cliché for a reason. When we’re feeling mentally cluttered with stress your mind gets overwhelmed. Getting things sorted out and decluttering your physical space can be quite meditative, can take your mind off your worry and therefore give you some space to relax and decompress.

Try it: Put on some music or a podcast, get some comfy clothes on and pick a space to organise. Wardrobes and kitchen cupboards can be particularly therapeutic as you get to see the benefit of being organised every day! Fully immerse yourself in the process and have some fun getting sorted!

•  Cry It Out:

In contrast to having a laugh, sometimes the only thing that helps is to let it all out and have a really good, snot and tears kind of cry. When we’re stressed and cry, we actually release stress hormones and therefore reduce the amount in our system.

Embrace it: Allow yourself to let your feelings come to the surface. If you are anxious be anxious and if that brings tears, then embrace them as being part of you and part of the healing process towards your body being more relaxed. If the crying keeps on then grab a pen and journal….keep writing till the tears stop.

• Use Pressure to reduce pressure

Acupressure is often thought of as acupuncture without the needles. According to the York Chiropractic Centre, applying pressure to acupoints is believed to help unblock energy, while releasing muscle tension and increasing blood flow.

Enjoy it: Find your Hegu point in the webbed area between your thumb and index finger. (See the link below) Move your fingers down so you’re between the thumb and index finger. Apply firm and circular pressure for five minutes on each hand. This is great for easing tension headaches and anxiety.

• Sound Therapy

We know how music can have a profound and almost immediate impact on our mood and certain types of music can often be a shortcut to calm. To take things a step further, try listening to music with low-frequency sound waves and binaural beats. This can slow our brain waves, and induce a feeling of calm.

Hear it: Spotify etc. have lots of options for low frequency or so-called ‘white noise’ options. Choose which is best for you and indulge in it. Don’t pop it on in the background, actually take time to listen without distraction even if it’s for a few minutes.

•  Feet First

Take your shoes and socks off! Letting your bare feet enjoy the outdoors and nature is a great way of connecting to the Earth. It might feel weird and that’s also a good way of distracting your brain from the things that are making you anxious! It’s incredibly freeing to walk in grass or mud to let your feet be free. Research suggests that the negative charge from the earth’s surface could act as an antioxidant, and could improve sleep, reduce stress, and even ease pain.

Feel it: The next time you go for a walk and you’re near a green space, kick off your shoes and feel the dirt between your toes. Focus on the sensations, and being connected to the ground beneath you. If not, then take off your shoes at home and enjoy how your feet react differently when they are free to be

• Self-Hypnosis

 According to many researchers including Mindset, Self-hypnosis takes meditation and infuses it with an intention to change. By tapping into the power of your subconscious, self-hypnosis is ideal if you’re looking to change habits that will make relaxing easier.

 Sit with it: Get yourself into a comfortable position, and focus on relaxing each muscle group one by one. Picture a new habit that you want to cultivate, for example, I will smile more. Visualise this happening in great detail, and note how it feels. Repeat the process regularly.

• Relaxing Reiki

Originating in Japan, Reiki has long been recognised as an energy healing system. Attuning themselves to universal life energy, Reiki practitioners can then use their hands to adjust this energy in others. Encouraging you to lie down, relax, and connect with something outside of yourself, many people find Reiki sessions incredibly soothing.

Research it: Search for a Reiki practitioner and, if in-person sessions aren’t possible, enquire about distant healing.

• Wear Comfy

Comfortable and tactile clothes can help you feel freer in your body, and more relaxed. Feeling a cosy texture can also stimulate your sense of touch which can help ground you. Some people find that their activewear is constricting yet comforting by its support and deep touch pressure whilst others like free-flowing gentle fabrics to help them relax.

Feel it: Experiment with different types and textures of clothes, and see what feels best for you.

Hopefully, there’ll be something on this list you haven’t tried before, so get experimenting, see what works for you, and expand your relaxation repertoire

 

I hope you find more ways to get a quiet mind, a soft body and a settled spirit. Please let me know how you get on

Much love always

Steph x

 

Check out these links for more information

https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/chi-schmich-sunscreen-column-column.html

https://yorkchiropractic.net/5-acupoints-for-anxiety-you-can-administer-yourself/

https://www.taichi-wellness.com/events_articles/events_articles_cont.

https://www.mindsethealth.com/matter/self-hypnosis-anxiety