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If you spend any significant amount of time on the internet, or if you follow a lot of health and fitness blogs, you've likely noticed that meditation is often suggested as a way to manage stress, anxiety, depression, and as a way to relax in general. Now, I'm definitely not going to deny that meditation is helpful, as a matter of fact, I've found that short guided-meditation videos really can provide at least a little bit of relief when I'm feeling really stressed or anxious. But the thing is, trying to sit still in Sukhasana for an extended period of time and trying (and failing) to focus on nothing but my breath is just not my thing. Perhaps this is because meditation is a practice, and I don't really do it all that often, so it's extremely difficult for me to clear my mind and not to fidget; but I really just can't get into it.
But knowing how beneficial it can be to take the time to at least try to clear my head (or maybe just sort through my thoughts) and not do too much, it's definitely worth trying to do something meditative. Even if the traditional sitting still and saying "ohm" type of practice that you may typically think of is really not your thing, there are still plenty of ways you can clear your head and ease some of the tension in your mind. Which in turn can relieve some of the tension you may physically feel in your body; as well as help you feel more focused when you're trying to work or sleep a little better at night. There are a lot of benefits to taking up meditation or finding some way to be mindful, clear your head, or just relax; and you can still get them even if sitting still in silence for long periods of time isn't for you.
Yoga
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I know this one isn't exactly a shocker, considering that the practices of yoga and meditation often come together. A lot of the longer, full-session, yoga videos I've tried on YouTube actually include a few minutes of sitting meditation as a part of the practice; where you simply sit in Sukhasana (or easy pose) and try to focus on your breath and a positive mantra, usually either at the beginning or the end of the session. I particularly enjoy yoga because while there may be portions of the practice where I'm being asked to sit still and just breath, I know that it usually won't be for very long and that I'll be moving; as well as giving those tight muscles a nice stretch.
There are yoga videos on YouTube for just about everything; whether it's for relieving negative emotions, relieving pain in the body, or even helping with nausea or headaches. I can't say these types of practices will make you feel 100% better, but they can help at least a little bit. There are also plenty of videos out there that help you wind down for bedtime or start your day in the morning. Seriously though, there is a yoga practice for just about everything, and for every level; so you don't have to be super flexible or super athletic to do yoga. I personally love Adriene Mishler's philosophy of finding what feels good for you, and not worrying about getting it "right" or being the perfect yogi.
I could honestly go on and on about yoga because there really are a lot of benefits to it, and whether you choose to go for a sweat session or a gentle moving meditation and stretch session is fully up to you.
Exercising in general
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If you're looking for something a little faster paced, just about any workout can be a great way to clear your head a bit. Feeling irritated, stressed the fuck out, or angry? Going for a run or trying a HIIT workout can help you let off some steam in a healthy way. Need a little pick-me-up or to just let loose? Try a dance workout; you don't necessarily have to be good at dancing, just have fun with it! Feeling a little down? Go on YouTube and find a trainer with a positive attitude and a fun workout; I LOVE Blogilates videos, Cassey fills me with positive vibes regardless of how I'm feeling!
Seriously though, just setting in some movement can really help you de-stress, clear your head, and improve your focus. Let me also just say that I actually found that when I changed my lifestyle to add in more physical activity, as well as a few other healthy habits, that it actually helped relieve a lot of my depression and anxiety. So just taking the time to sweat it out in a way that makes you happy can be a great way to meditate, even if it's not exactly traditional meditation. It helps if you try your best to focus on maintaining a steady breath throughout your workout and maintaining proper form as you're moving; and try not to think too much about everything else going on at home, work, in your social life, or outside of what you're doing at that very moment.
Simply going for a walk
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Let's be real, sometimes you really don't feel like sweating it out, and rolling out your mat just seems like a little bit of a drag, but you still feel the need to move a little bit. Or perhaps you have a bit of cabin fever from being stuck inside all day, all week, or even all Winter, and you've just got to get some fresh air. I spend a lot of time in my room and at my desk, and I tend to even workout inside (and in rather tight quarters), so I definitely know that feeling. I tend to get rather restless when I've been trapped in the house for long periods of time, often without even realizing it, so when the weather permits, sometimes it's nice to just go for a walk.
Just getting away from my desk and away from the house in general, and going for a walk really helps me to organize my thoughts and clear my head. I also often become inspired and come up with some of my best ideas while I'm out on a walk! It doesn't necessarily have to be a long one, though I do tend to opt for long walks (about 3 miles) when I can, just getting out of the house, moving a little bit and getting some fresh air and daylight can be really beneficial. And you'll even burn off a few extra calories without having to do push-ups or burpees.
Just getting away from my desk and away from the house in general, and going for a walk really helps me to organize my thoughts and clear my head. I also often become inspired and come up with some of my best ideas while I'm out on a walk! It doesn't necessarily have to be a long one, though I do tend to opt for long walks (about 3 miles) when I can, just getting out of the house, moving a little bit and getting some fresh air and daylight can be really beneficial. And you'll even burn off a few extra calories without having to do push-ups or burpees.
Journaling
When you think of mediation, you probably think of completely shutting off your mind and not thinking, which seems rather impossible; especially when you have a lot on your mind, be it good or bad. So how about rather than trying not to think those thoughts, why not let them out (or even try to figure out just what they are and why you're feeling the way you're feeling) by writing them down? You can write as much or as little as you need to, and how you go about journaling is entirely up to you. You can get super creative and start a bullet journal, or keep it really simple and just keep track of the basics.
I often find that physically writing everything down on paper helps a lot with understanding what is going on in my head. As I'm journaling, I also like to take note of my current mood, and how I'm feeling physically, along with anything that may have happened during the day. I actually don't think it's a bad idea to do this regularly to see if you can find any patterns; such as whether certain people or things tend to stress you out, or when it may just be PMS.
It's also not a bad idea to try to write down as many things as you're grateful for as possible, even (and especially) when you're in a really crappy mood; and think about the good things in your life as well.
It's also not a bad idea to try to write down as many things as you're grateful for as possible, even (and especially) when you're in a really crappy mood; and think about the good things in your life as well.
Coloring
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Coloring isn't just for kids, although it could potentially be another great way to get in touch with your inner child, and it really is super relaxing; and it also allows you to keep your hands busy without having to think too much. I personally like to color in the morning as part of my morning routine, and I sometimes like to color a little bit at night before bed as well as a way to wind down without looking at a screen. I definitely can't say that my mind shuts off when I'm coloring, but coloring allows me to organize the thoughts in my head a bit, as it doesn't require too much thought in itself. Nor am I being overloaded more and more (potentially anxiety-inducing) thoughts, as I would if I were working on an important project, or especially scrolling through social media.
Just trying to focus on what colors to use, and staying in the lines (especially in those coloring pages with tiny details), is a great way to start or end the day; or to just take a break from everything else when you need one. It also allows you to use a little bit of your creativity in a non-stressful way.
Just trying to focus on what colors to use, and staying in the lines (especially in those coloring pages with tiny details), is a great way to start or end the day; or to just take a break from everything else when you need one. It also allows you to use a little bit of your creativity in a non-stressful way.
Listening to some music
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I almost always have headphones on when I'm at my desk; seriously, it actually feels a bit unnatural not to wear them when I'm at my computer. I absolutely must have something playing while I'm writing or working, especially during the day when things may be a little chaotic either outside, or even in the house. Putting on some good music to listen to alongside whatever else I'm doing usually helps me focus on what I'm trying to do on a typical day, but sometimes it's also nice to just listen to the music as well, or even sing along when no one is watching or listening. (Or maybe they are and you don't mind!)
I'll be honest, I don't typically listen to relaxing or meditative music unless it's included in a guided meditation or yoga video, but that doesn't mean that it can't still be relaxing. Listening to music can be an amazing way to let those pent up emotions flow, and allow yourself to feel what you're feeling and process it; good or bad. I'll be honest again though, I tend to avoid this too for some reason, LMAO; especially when it comes to sad songs or songs that bring back bad memories (even if I like the song). So I tend to choose to listen to music that makes me feel the way that I want to feel in that moment
Anyways though, simply listening to music and not doing too much else while you listen can be a great way to relax. You can also easily combine it with many of the other activities on this list.
Reading something lighthearted
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Reading allows me to truly escape into another world, and because I'm focused on what I'm reading, it allows me to escape the stresses and otherwise negative thoughts I may be dealing with for a little while. When I'm feeling a little down I prefer to read something fun and lighthearted, rather than anything too emotional, suspenseful, or sad. I enjoy reading those kinds of books too, but when I'm trying to ease my mind, reading something too emotional or suspenseful can get me a bit wound up.
Seriously, I've been kept up all night by good books because of the emotional roller coaster that comes along with some of them, LMAO. I suppose that means I'm just really enjoying the book, but it's not always the best when I'm already feeling a little depressed or anxious; this truly depends on you though. But reading something lighthearted and fun, or maybe even something lighthearted but a little on the boring side is better for the stressed-out mind than reading something suspenseful or emotional. But maybe that's just me!
Watching or listening to some ASMR videos
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I'm sure that by now, you've at least heard about ASMR from somewhere; if you don't already watch it regularly like I do. If you've never watched ASMR before, it may seem a bit weird at first, since the ASMRtist is either whispering or speaking in a very soft voice, but it actually is really relaxing; even if you don't get ASMR tingles. I'll admit that some types of ASMR videos are definitely on the weirder side, and aren't my thing, but there are so many ASMR videos out there, and so many ASMRtists, that you are likely to find something you like; as long as you have an open mind about it.
I actually listen to ASMR more often than I listen to music! (Perhaps that takes the place of listening to relaxing or meditative music?) So you can easily listen to a lot of ASMR videos while you're working, or even when trying traditional sitting meditation. There are also plenty of roleplay style ASMR videos that provide enough entertainment to get your mind off things for a bit, or to help you imagine yourself in a more relaxing scenario. Though there are also some darker or horror-themed ASMR videos as well; I think these are more just for fun though. The creativity of the ASMR community is truly amazing.
Trying a brief guided meditation
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Last, but not least, I'd just like to include just trying a quick guided meditation, and seeing how it goes. It definitely doesn't have to be a long one at all. If you check out Yoga With Adriene's channel on YouTube, she has a few great guided meditation practices, and all of them are under 15 minutes. A few of them you can even lay down for, and one of them includes just a little bit of gentle movement. She even has a quick 7-minute practice you can do first thing in the morning when you probably don't want to do too much yet anyway. I feel like I definitely don't do this often enough, but taking just a few minutes to follow a guided meditation can make a difference; I may actually need to make a habit of adding these brief practices to my morning and bedtime routines.
What are some of the things you like to do to relax or to release some of the tension? Do you enjoy sitting meditation, or is it really not your thing either? I'd love to hear your thoughts, as well as ideas on ways to relax; and maybe even some advice for building the habit of regular meditation.
These are such good points! Sometimes one forgets to take time to relax and just have some down time. I take public transportation and so I have lots of time to dwell and relax, or I walk which really helps.
ReplyDeleteColouring is great! By focusing on colouring one does not have time to think about other things.
Thanks for sharing!
Loren | plaidandsugar.blogspot.com
It's actually really easy to forget to relax! I love being productive, but when I don't take any time to relax or to relieve any of the stress or tension, I end up being less productive than I would be if I just took a break. Taking public transportation can be great as you don't have to think about driving, I wish we had public transportation here honestly, but small towns don't tend to have much. Walking still helps though!
DeleteI love that about coloring though! I actually didn't realize how relaxing it could actually be until I tried it out myself. You don't have to think too much about it, but it gives you something to focus on!