When it comes to relaxing the mind and the body, there are always going to be the standard things you might try. A warm bath perhaps, reading a book, or simply going to bed to get a good night’s rest. With the daily stress of life, financial issues playing on our minds, and even the routine of family life and work, we can all feel that strong need to relax and unwine. While we always embrace some of the traditional methods mentioned earlier, they don’t always work, and often we need to think outside of the box in order to calm our minds, especially if we have a lot going on at the moment.
It is always worth thinking outside of the box and trying alternative methods to help you begin to relax and de-stress the mind and body. With that in mind, here are some of the unconventional methods you could try.
Gaming
Gaming, or playing games can actually be a great way to relax your mind as you are placing your focus on something else specifically. This helps you to forget what might be troubling you or causing you stress as you think of something a little more simpler. In the modern day and age, jumping on a games console can be a great option to consider. You may want to get yourself engrossed and invested in a Minecraft world, where you can create your own village, and home, and generally create whatever you life. You can also look at Minecraft 1.14 seeds to enhance the gaming experience. Others like games of skill, where you have to complete levels. Even things like combat games can actually be very relaxing, as it can transport you to another world where you have one main objective. Enabling you to free up your mind. There are also the options of playing old-fashioned board games, although these tend to need the involvement of others. Games like chess, for example, can be very cathartic and help to relax you as you focus on something else.
Colouring
If you want something a little more slower paced you may want to take up colouring. It may sound crazy but there has been a huge trend of late where you can now purchase adult colouring books. They are a proven method of relaxation as you sit and colour, just as you may have done as a child. You blend colours, you think about nothing but the pencil on the paper, and allow your mind to relax. It can also be a great way to de-stress and while it may sound like such a simple act, it can be one of the best ways to calm your mind. You also get the chance to relax your body as you sit still for a longer period of time than you might normally do.
Exercise
Exercise may feel like more effort than relaxation but actually it is a great way to cleanse your mind and start feeling good. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins around your body which ultimately make you feel good. It may be a little unconventional, but your mind is bound to be cleared once you have done it and you may find that you can refocus on the difficult task causing you stress. Exercising does take a little effort to get started with, so a great tip is to commit yourself to a personal training session, or a class where you have had to book on pay for it in advance. It can help to encourage you to stick with the commitment, rather than looking for excuses not to exercise when you really don’t feel like it.
Unplug from social media
Many people jump on their phones and aimlessly scroll through social media as a way of relaxation, but this can actually be causing a negative effect on you. We often don’t realise the mental impact that social media can have on us. If you’re particularly troubled or not feeling your best then social media can actually heighten those feelings instead of relaxing you from them. You may start to compare your life to someone else’s highlight reel. You may start to wonder why you are finding things tough, when others will be too, they just are not sharing it. Instead try unplugging from social media for a while and do something a little different.
Adjusting your thoughts
Often when we feel particularly stressed and out of sorts, it can mean that we struggle to channel our thoughts more productively. So a great tip is to imagine your mind and thoughts as something like an airport or bus terminal. Planes and buses arrive, and then they leave for other destinations once more. Your thoughts can enter your mind, but you should easily get to a stage where you can also release them and let them out into the world once more. Meditation can be a great way to help you do this.
Just breath
Finally, it may sound the simplest of them all, but taking a moment to just breath can actually be the ultimate way to relax your mind and help you refocus. It takes you away from the situation, and enables you to just have one moment to just collect your thoughts. People use breathing techniques and things like meditation as a way of relaxing at night or to help them start their day in the right way. ANother method to consider, especially in a particularly stressful situation, is to start counting to ten. The aim is to get to ten and to feel much more calmer than you did when you started at one.
Sometimes trying out some of the most unconventional and non-traditional methods can give you excellent results. There is no harm in ensuring that you take better care of yourself, physically and mentally. But when a hot bath and a book is just not going to cut it, then these options can help. Let’s hope it has inspired you to try a few alternative options yourself.
