The holiday season is supposed to be the best time of the year, so why is it that so many people find the season so stressful? For one thing, there are many things to keep track of during the holidays. You’re probably planning to buy gifts for your loved ones, and that means you need to know where you’re going to go for those gifts and what you’re going to buy. You also need to know when you’re going to do your shopping in order to get the best possible prices. In addition to the stress of planning and preparing for the holidays, you’re probably feeling a bit of extra stress due to the added financial strain.
Gift buying is just the beginning. You might like to decorate your house – but before you can do that, you need to get rid of the clutter. If you have children, their schedules are probably filling up with extra activities. You’re busier than ever, and you can’t imagine when you might be able to find the time to sit down and relax a little.
What you need are some simple can’t-miss relaxation techniques that you can learn immediately – ideas that can help you make the most of the time you do have. In this article, we’re going to give you some ideas that can help. If you can find a few extra minutes for yourself this holiday season, try one of these easy relaxation ideas to reset your brain and reduce your stress level.
Enjoy an uplifting herbal experience
When you were younger, it’s possible that you engaged in a little herb smoking from time to time. Now that you’re older, though, you might have given it up. Perhaps you live in a multi-resident building and don’t want to draw attention to yourself. Maybe you live in a state that doesn’t even have legal access to cannabis. Well, it’s time to reconsider because hemp-derived cannabinoids like Delta-8 are just as fun – and more importantly, they’re federally legal and easy to buy online. Today’s herbal extracts don’t have the telltale smell of conventional cannabis, and they’re extremely strong. Grab some Delta-8 wax or oil and an electric dab rig, and you’ll be on cloud nine in minutes. It’s the ideal way to clear your head when you’re feeling overly stressed.
Take 10 minutes to meditate
The idea of meditation might sound a bit intimidating to you if you’ve never done it before. Meditation, however, isn’t just for yoga studios and retreats to Indian ashrams. It’s something that you can do anywhere, and it doesn’t require any special expertise or training. All that you need is a few minutes of privacy and a comfortable space in which to sit or lie down. Meditation is quite simple, and experts believe that it can be extremely useful for reducing stress levels.
To meditate, all that you need to do is sit or lie down in a comfortable position and focus on a single simple thought. Some people focus on a sound called a mantra. Others simply focus on their breathing patterns. Try to think of nothing but that one simple thought for at least 10 minutes. Return to that thought every time you sense that your mind has begun to wander. You might find meditation extremely relaxing from the very first time you try it. If you don’t notice results immediately, though, don’t become frustrated – just make a commitment to try again the next day. Before long, meditation will probably become an important part of your relaxation routine.
Increase your physical activity
Did you know that regular exercise is proven to help relieve stress, anxiety and depression? The fact that exercise works so well to alleviate so many issues probably has something to do with the many benefits it has. If you exercise during the day, the fact that you’ve burned off a little excess energy will help you sleep better at night. That’ll give you more energy and motivation to work out again the next day. You’ll also feel better with regular exercise because it’ll improve your cardiovascular health. If you’re not feeling too enthusiastic about the way you look, the fact that regular exercise can help you lose weight can provide a great boost for your self-esteem.
You’re certainly already very aware of the positive benefits of exercise. If you don’t already work out on a regular basis, it’s probably because you either feel too tired after work or don’t feel like you have the time. If either of those is the case, it’s time to start thinking about exercise in a different way. Instead of getting a gym membership or buying a new piece of exercise equipment you’ll never use, look for smaller and easier ways to increase your level of activity. If you enjoy baseball, go to a local batting cage and let off some steam on your way home from work. Alternatively, take your dog outside and toss a frisbee around for a while. Exercise is also a great family activity; go for a walk around the block with your spouse and children every night after dinner. When you begin to see the positive results from your increased physical activity, it’ll be much easier to justify buying that treadmill or gym membership.
Play a board game with your family
The fact that people spend so much of their time looking at bright screens probably has a lot to do with their elevated stress levels and inability to relax. Phones, computers and televisions all produce large amounts of blue light – and spending too much time looking at blue light can lead to elevated stress levels and poor sleep quality. Instead of watching TV or playing video games at the end of the day, step away from the screen and play a board game with your family.
Don’t forget that board games don’t have to be competitive. There’s a wide array of cooperative board games on that market today that help to foster partnership and strategic planning. Playing board games together can be a great way to rekindle your relationship with your family during the holiday season, and getting away from screens for a while can do wonders for your mental health.
Jeffrey Grant, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
