5 Tools to Relax
Here are 5 tools that you can incorporate into daily life to help you relax, de-stress, and meditate with greater ease.
1. Explore meditation apps
There are many free and paid options for meditation apps. A simple search will give you a selection to experiment with. My favorite app is Insight Timer. As of writing this, the app has a free option and provides thousands of options such as guided meditation, timer bells, and insightful talks.
2. Listen to music or guided meditation videos
The key here is to listen to music or meditations intentionally. Observe how different genres, instruments, songs, and rhythms influence your feelings and mood. There are videos YouTube that have music for specific intentions (ex: relaxing, positive uplifting, concentration and focus, etc.)
3. Breath
Whenever you are feeling stressed, take one full intentional breath with awareness.
4. Change your environment
If you need a full reset, then momentarily leave the environment you are in, go outside and bring awareness to your breath for at least one minute. As you begin to practice this more, lengthen the time of your breathe-awareness. Notice how you feel different after walking outside to breath. (No phones or distractions allowed!)
5. Movement
Movement shifts the energy inside the body. It’s also an activity that the average person needs to do more. Find the movement that feels good to you– walk, jog, bike, swim, soccer, yoga, stretch, etc.