How to relax and take time for ourselves

These days we all lead busy lives which can result in us becoming stressed and feeling overwhelmed, but there are a few simple ways we can become more calm and relaxed.

• Learning to breathe deeply is a simple and effecive way to calm the body and mind.
• Releasing tension held in the body can help you relax.
• Connecting with nature can help you feel less stressed.

It is easy to become stressed in day-to-day life with our busy schedules and it is easy to forget to prioritise ourselves and our own well-being. So here are a few tips you can try to help you relax and calm those anxious thoughts.

Take a deep breath
Breathing is one of the best exercises to help you relax because it is so simple. It can effectively calm your stressed-out body and mind anywhere, anytime.

Because it is so simple it can be done anywhere. Find a quiet safe place to sit and put one hand on your chest. Breathe in for one, two, three and then breathe out for the same slow count. When you focus on your breathing, it can help you ground yourself and calm your nerves. Focus on your breathing, the way your chest rises with each breath and you will feel a lot calmer.

Release tension from your body
When you feel mentally stressed, you are also physically stressed. So it's time to take a step back and release this tension. Lay on a soft surface and tense up one body part at a time. Feel the tension and then slowly relax the muscle. As you do this, you will notice how your body sensations change. It can help you focus on the current situation and lets you thin about why you are actually responding in such a way.

Look at the bigger picture
When you feel like you have a lot on your mind, it is easy to become overwhelmed and anxious. One way that you can clear your mind and soothe your thoughts is to write them down. Take a few minutes to write down some short notes about how you are feeling and how your day is going. Being away of your thoughts and how you are framing them can help you to recognise overthinking, it helps to reorganise and calm your mind.

Make a gratitude list
Doing this helps make us feel more grateful for the people and the things we have in our lives. It's a great way to acknowlege and reflect on our own success too. Try to think of three good things that happened to you today and write them down, no matter how small. This should help you to chill out, it's a great way to reflect and help you create a more positive mind.

Meditate
Visualising a space that makes you feel calm and relaxed takes you away from the stress that you may currently be feeling, allowing you to escape negative or racing thoughts. Find a quiet place to sit and begin to think about a place in the world where you feel most calm. Close your eyes and imagine all the details, the sights, the sounds, smells, tastes and tactile feelings.

Connect with your surroundings
Spending just a few minutes in nature when you are stressed helps you to relax. Go for a short walk and breathe in some fresh air, this will give your brain time to recharge.

If you don't want to or can't you don't even need to go outside. Scientists have discovered that simply looking at nature in a magazine or on a computer screen can help.

So next time you are feeling a little stressed or anxious, try these few simple tricks.