Finding time to relax is easier said than done. We’re all constantly rushing off somewhere, always have better things to do then stop for a moment and do something nice for ourselves. The main reason for this is that we strongly believe we should “work now, enjoy later” and often that later never comes or is extremely short and not enough to make up for all the stress of everyday life we carry around with us. That is why it would be wise to adopt new habits that allow us to unwind and relax at least for a couple of minutes. Being able to relax on cue isn’t something easily achieved, but it can be done, and here we’ll talk about five ways to relax yourself in five minutes or less.
5 Ways to relax Yourself in 5 Minutes or Less
1. Be Alone in Your Space
When the whole office is buzzing with stress, anxiousness and deadlines, it’s hardly possible for you to relax and enjoy. When everybody around you is pumped with negativity, chances are you will catch the bug too, but thankfully, there’s a quick and simple way to change your perspective. Find a place where you can be alone with your thoughts, be it your office, the nearby park or even the toilet.
In order to relax you need to be sure that your energy isn’t going to waste because you’re constantly thinking about things that need to be done. When you get to your safe space, stop in your tracks and take a deep breath. Keep breathing deeply and your body will have no choice but to relax and your mind will follow. For the next five minutes, the world is yours, it’s completely quiet and in these five minutes you can do whatever you want – lie down, sit still, look at the ceiling, have a sip of coffee or water, whatever comes to mind really. The key is your ability to enjoy your own company, nothing more, enjoy the silence and peace that you gathered in yourself and then go back to your responsibilities to see just how much of a game changer those five minutes of enjoyment made.
2. Find an Animal to Hang Out With
If you have a pet, then you know that nothing can replace the sense of pure joy we get from playing with them or simply petting them. Animals are pure and loving, which makes them the best possible therapy. Hug your dog for five minutes and you will feel warm and snuggly inside for sure. Besides, animals are amazing in neutralizing any negative energy we might carry around with us, so even if you’re constantly hardwired and it’s not easy for you to relax, it will become completely natural to you if you’ve got animals around. If you don’t have a pet, head out to the nearest pet store and hang out with puppies, you will enjoy yourselves thoroughly and come back to your day smiling.
3. Foodie Rewards
You should be careful with this form of enjoyment, as you don’t want to develop a habit of biting into something sweet every time you feel nervous. However, you can take a five-minute break to drink some tea or juice or go for a piece of fruit or dark chocolate. You want to enjoy yourself, but you also want to make sure you’re not consuming unnecessary carbs, right? Every once in a while, go all out and have cookies or something that might not be that good for you, but it’s delicious and you know you won’t regret it. You don’t always have to stress about eating healthy, an occasional sin is completely allowed.
4. Music Makes Everything Better
“We are the Champions” by Queen is one of the best songs to put on whenever you feel down, just the voice of Freddie Mercury is enough to make you feel better. Even if you’re not into rock classics, there must be that one or a few songs that make you smile and imagine yourself on a stage. When you haven’t got much time to enjoy, but you still need a break, putting on some music and letting it play loud will give you an adrenalin rush. Even if you’re stuck in your office, put on your headphones and go for it. Singing along is also highly recommended, and if you feel like busting some dance moves, who’s there to stop you?
5. A Bit of Physical Activity Makes a Big Difference
Just get up and go. You don’t need any fancy gear, you don’t need your running shoes, just get out in the open. Spend a couple of minutes basking in the sun, start walking and see where your feet will take you, go for a longer hike if circumstances allow, just don’t stay confined within four walls. Our first piece of advice was to find your safe space and breathe, but if you can’t do that, the next best thing is to get a move on. You can even do a short workout to get some of the stress out, you will be surprised at how much of a difference physical activity can have, both for your body and your thoughts. Even if you’re not particularly fond of exercise, it makes you feel better in your own skin and helps your mind gain much needed clarity.
Being happier with yourself shouldn’t be scheduled or well-thought through, but it should be something that happens naturally. These five tips will definitely help you find some enjoyment even if you’ve got five minutes to savor it, it will be enough to get you through the day.
Author bio
Theresa Brawner is a 28-year-old fitness instructor from Boston, MA, who writes articles for www.diet.st and mealdeliveryservices in her free time. When she isn’t helping new moms get back in shape, you can find her in the kitchen, working on new recipes.
