Do you find it ironic that you have trouble relaxing in a society seen as lazy by so many people?
If so, you’re not the only one.
It can seem like half the world is binging on Netflix and Hulu, and the other half is running a rat race every day.
But life is about a balance of work and rest.
Too much pressure causes physical and mental health problems.
You might think you’re productively moving ahead.
In reality, though? You’re on the path to a crash and burn.
It’s not always easy to step back and relax when you’re wired to gogogo.
If you know you need a breaky, yet you aren’t sure how to make it happen, use these tips to learn how to “chill out.”
1. Start With Small Time Chunks
Resting your mind and body doesn’t have to mean long tropical vacations or hours at a spa.
Not only is this hard to do when you have a busy schedule, but it can also be scary.
However, it is essential that you give your body time every day to rest and regroup.
Get Out of Your Day and Into Your Head
When was the last time you stopped your to-dos long enough to get in your mind?
No thinking about other people or your list of thousands of tasks. Just sitting in the quiet, letting go of all your thoughts.
Sounds terrifying, right?
Building up to this over small chunks of time isn’t as nerve-wracking.
Start by sitting in a dark, quiet, distraction-free area for five minutes a day.
Set a timer on your phone, keeping the ringer on silent, and make sure no one will bother you.
It might take a few times (or a few dozen) before you begin to feel comfortable doing this.
As you get used to the silence, gradually increase the timer to ten minutes, then fifteen, until you’re able to give yourself the break you need.
Sitting in silence has numerous physical and mental benefits.
From lowered blood pressure to increased creativity, you’ll learn to crave the time spent in your head.
Also Read: How to Relax in Preparation for Sleep?
2. Get Some Natural Help
If your thoughts run around at full speed and are difficult to shut off, your brain might need a little help calming itself down.
There are prescription medications that your doctor can give you that will do this.
However, before you start anything that could become addictive, why not try some natural solutions?
How to Use Plants to Chill
Herbs and plants have been used for thousands of years as medicine.
We’ve pulled away from them over the last couple of decades as modern synthetic alternatives entered the scene.
Natural holistic medicine still works; it’s been displaced by pharmaceuticals.
There are lots of herbs and supplements that can help you chill out without the harmful side effects.
These come in pills, teas, powders, and aromatherapy.
Some of the more common types are lavender, chamomile, and ashwagandha.
One that has been gaining popularity lately is cannabis.
It’s legal in most places when the product is hemp-derived, or you can get a medical marijuana card and buy marijuana with THC in it.
Everyone responds uniquely to this plant. Cannabis isn’t a depressant or a stimulant.
Cannabis is a natural method of balancing out your endocannabinoid system, which can stimulate you or relax you, depending on the strain you use.
Try each herb or supplement that interests you and see how your body responds. Eventually, you’ll find one that chills you out and helps you rest.
3. Change Your Environment
The brain is an astonishing organ. It responds to stimuli in our environment that we don’t even actively recognize are there!
Anything from too much clutter to bright and bold colors can affect how relaxed or alert we are.
By purposefully controlling your environment, you can guide your mind the way you want it to go.
Designing an Environment of Calm
Think about the things you do when you want to feel more awake.
You’re driving in your car, starting to get drowsy.
Chances are, you’ll roll the window down, chew some peppermint gum, and blare loud music.
Calming your mind works the same way, but with different characteristics.
When you know you want to rest, put on some soothing sounds.
Dim the lights. Set the temperature to a cool, not cold, setting. Avoid bright or bold colors and patterns and too much clutter.
Your brain already recognizes “dark” with “time to sleep.”
Create an relaxing environment, and over time, your mind will learn that when the room looks like “this,” it’s time to chill out and stop thinking.
Conclusion
It might seem like your brain has the power to control your moods.
The truth is that you’ve conditioned your mind to act and respond a certain way.
With these tips, you can recondition it to give you the time you need each day to relax.
A few minutes of unwinding increases your energy and productivity, making it a smart time management skill, not an excuse to be lazy.
Hi, I’m the Founder and Developer of Paramedics World, a blog truly devoted to Paramedics. I am a Medical Lab Tech, a Web Developer and Bibliophiliac. My greatest hobby is to teach and motivate other peoples to do whatever they wanna do in life.