After a stressful week and beginning of the year, be sure to take some time for yourself this long weekend and relax. Whether it is relaxing your mind or your body, stress relief is so important for your mental and physical health. Stress relief boosts productivity, decreases headaches, backpain, anxiety and worry. Be sure to try these tips out so you can have the most relaxing long weekend possible.
1. Meditation
Meditation is a very helpful activity you can do to reduce stress and control anxiety. Meditation improves sleep, cognitive and creative thinking skills, and can improve memory retention and recall. Simple breathing exercises help with this process, and can be done from any location. One common technique is simple abdominal breathing and is done in the following steps:
- Simply inhale deeply and slowly through your nose and relax your shoulders. You should feel your abdomen expand, and your chest should rise very little.
- Slowly exhale through your mouth, by keeping your slightly pursing your lips and keeping your jaw relaxed
- Repeat this process for several minutes
2. Exercise
Exercise is so important to maintaining a healthy body and mind. Exercise releases endorphins and hormones that lower stress, improve your mood and act as natural painkillers. Studies have shown that exercise improves sleep, and self-esteem, and has many positive effects on your physical health. So, this long weekend, be sure to get out and go for a walk or run or even go bike riding to decrease the effects of stress.
3. Take a bath
The best and most simple way to relax, boost your mood and feel refreshed is by submerging yourself in a nice hot bath. Enhance your experience by lighting a scented candle, and adding bath salts or a bath bomb, listening to music or reading a book. Bathing is the best way to escape our chaotic lives and take a well-earned break.
If you want to treat yourself or someone you love to a relaxing spa experience this weekend, be sure to purchase a spa.com.au gift card here.
