Top 10 Tools I Use To Unwind & Relax

I'ts so important to me to recognise those activities that help me to rid myself of negative energies I've build up during the day and release them in a relaxing and sometimes even productive way.

I don't use every one of them every day but these tactics have changed over time and will probably continue to change as I develop. So, as it stands, here are the first 10 techniques that came to mind, I use to really wind down.

1. Yoga & Meditation

Only in recent months has it become apparent to me how necessary yoga and meditation is to my daily life.

I don't have time NOT to do it now. Last night in particular I spent a long afternoon sat in the car singing along to my favourite tunes in the car and as fun as that was, by the time I'd reached my house, my back was aching, my legs felt numb and my butt had gone to sleep!

It occurred to me, that even though I've been participating in yoga and meditation it is actually necessary to me living optimally. I needed it! Not just to stretch out my muscles but to quieten my mind and let go of anything causing obvious or underlying, unnoticed stress.

The release of the day is exceptionally important to me. I've noticed, especially if it doesn't seem like it's been at all stressful.

My number 1# unwinding tool. Click Here to read the full post on "Why I Think Yoga is The Answer To Everything".

2. Writing & Reading

I used to find a lot of the time, to really get into a good read or begin writing 'my masterpiece' I need to be 'in the zone'. It never occurred to me that I could do this by teaching myself how and practicing.

I can and so can you! If you're like me - the type of person who could easily read 4 pages of a book and then forget it all within 10 seconds or wonder what the hell you've just read, fear not! It's just practice, the more you read, you'll more you'll take it and the more you'll want to. It's now something I try and now, do happily every day!

The same goes for writing, I've been so concerned that my piece isn't going to be perfect that I don't do it at all! If anything, this blog in particular has taught me that it doesn't need to be perfect! The more I write, the easier it becomes and both of these activities are for me, escapes from reality almost.

Right now, I'm sat in a café on my lunch break with a coffee, rapping away on my laptop. Little by little, the blog idea I'd had years ago and was too worried to begin, became a reality and I haven't looked back! It's no longer stress-FULL but stress-LESS when I'm able to get the muddle of ideas out of my head and onto a page or screen.

3. Planning & Organizing

I can't stress how much joy it brings me, not necessarily to do, but to have done my planning for the day, the week, or just the future in general. Looking back at a solid plan is literal happiness for me because just a few short moments ago, all these things were floating around my head aimlessly. All of sudden my life makes sense again.

"A goal without a plan is just a wish" -Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Some might call me OCD, I call myself "forward-thinking". I'm not relentless with it but, in going back to the previous paragraph, the idea of getting everything out of my head and onto paper is a dream come true.

Admittedly, sometimes it can be a bit of a time waster, especially if I've done it for no reason, 100's of unfinished lists and plans turning up in handbags and drawers can be a bit unnerving! However, I find it genuinely calming to sit down and for instance, plan my day, write a shopping list of exactly what I need or even how I plan to run my business in 5 years time. When these plans are utilised it saves a whole bunch of time in the long run, I know exactly what I'm doing and where I'm at and sh*t gets done a whole lot more efficiently! Lists = Bliss.

4. Bathing & Pampering

Now, call me a cliché of a woman but pampering and bathing are somewhat of a huge stress release to me. Mostly because I don't do it very often so when I do I go all out! Without the obvious, you can lie in the bath and relax until your heart's content (or until your water goes cold!) but when using essential oils, aromatherapy candles or incense, it can really do your health some good as well as heightening your senses for the full experience of relaxation.

We're lucky enough to have a bath in our flat, I'm lucky enough to be the only one to use it, whilst I don't use it on the daily, occasionally I will light up the candles, pour a hot bath and just soak there. Absorbing the oils, salts and aromas will have me feeling like a new woman once I emerge from my temporary watery grave and I strongly consider it for anyone needing that dose of extra cleansed energy.

5. Walking

Since being in Bulgaria, we've done a lot of walking. It's been amazing, relaxing and of course tiring but that hasn't taken anything away from the incredible things we've seen and experienced - and the walks themselves.

Walking for me, is something that will never get old or boring. Oddly I prefer to walk in the rain than in any other weather. Mostly because in the rain, it's almost like the day expects nothing of you but just to walk. It provides something rare in that you can think, relax, take in nature, exercise, meditate, plan, learn, enjoy, listen to music, explore, talk or just simply... Walk. I've not found this with any other type of activity and that's why it's a great tool to unwind.

6. Spending Time With Loved Ones

I sure have learned that over the last few weeks, it's so very important to spend time with loved ones. Not just because they won't be around forever but because it's fantastic for the soul.

Human's are social creatures. You may be thinking, I'm an introvert and I prefer to spend time alone. Well so am I (which is why I've only really realised this in the last few weeks!). I felt somewhat like spending time with too many people was a drain on me and got in the way of my plans, whilst this is possible if you're not careful, generally I'm quite happy to say I was wrong.

To have a meal with family/friends or both has to be up there with one of the best things you can do with your evening. Though it doesn't need to be physical, you can text or call and you can still allow the adequate space around you that suits you best. Sometimes, often most of the time, just to let someone know you're thinking of them is enough. Without going into too much detail, my parents and I don't have the closest relationship but that's not to say it can't be closer. Maybe I just need to try harder! I've complained that other people have great family relationships and I don't but then I've not given 100% to them and expected 100% back. That makes me kind of selfish right? Luckily for me, I've realised this faux pas before it's too late and most of my family still around.

If you have a great relationship with your loved ones - good for you! Keep it strong and cherish it, family is your life line after all and regardless of difficult relationships and situations we find ourselves in with family members, we should all remember this. If you don't have a great relationship with your family, there's no harm in trying harder. Some of you may be in a situation where that isn't possible and that's ok, there are plenty of people who could use a friend.

"In family relationships, love is really spelled T.I.M.E.” -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Making time for friends is also important to me, it's very easy to get caught up in busy lives with busy jobs but just take a moment to think about what it might feel like if you didn't have a single person in the world close to you in heart. It doesn't feel good does it? You lose nothing by getting out there and showing your friends, your family and the world how much love you have to give!

7. Swimming

Swimming has to be my favourite type of cardio in the entire world! Believe me, I'm no Michael Phelps but jumping into the pool and becoming mermaid-me for that short hour is one of the highlights of my week.

It doesn't feel like working out at all! I don't feel tired afterwards, I feel energised! Having never been too into running, it felt like a lot of hard work for very little return (just to me, that is. If you're into running, more power to you!). Swimming however, never felt like hard work. Maybe because I enjoyed it so much? Maybe because when you're in the water your body moves more freely than when on land? Maybe because there's so many variations of strokes that it's difficult for swimming to become boring... Maybe all of the above!

It's a go-to unwind tool for me because, whilst I use energy to do it, I gain energy not just during but after and once I'm out of the pool I certainly feel the difference. My muscles are stretched out, limber and more flexible, I'm happy with myself (which I always am after doing something physical for a period of time), I've gotten rid of the bad energy I was carrying and I made space for new, more positive energy.

I think swimming is much like yoga, in that you're able to go at your own pace and it's a great way to access fitness and relaxation depending on what level you choose to go at.

That being said, I've talked myself into going for a quick dip at the pool now, it's long overdue!

8. Getting That Vitamin D

...And no, I'm not talking about Beyonce's idea of Vitamin D I mean literal Vitamin D!

Getting outside and soaking up the sun has got to be up there for most people unless you're a vampire (no offense if you are).

There are so many benefits to safe-sun-seeking and soaking up the Vitamin D, in that it fights disease, combats depression, fatigue and surprisingly aids weight-loss and weight-management.

Sitting in the sunshine (caked in factor 30 of course), reading a book, meditating or just relaxing, I find, is a fantastic way to unwind and genuinely helps you to feel good in general.

9. Helping Others

This may seem like a bit of an odd thing to do to "unwind" but it's more about the feelings you get after helping someone that attribute to the "unwinding".

Helping others, naturally, makes us feel good. It makes us happy that we were able to make somebody else's day better and for the most part, we end up improving on our own day in the process as well as possibly feeling gratitude for all the times we've been helped by others.

Amazing things happen to you when you help another. Not only do we experience true spiritual growth (no matter how insignificant it may feel) but we also enrich the connections we have and make with others. Believe it or not, when we help other people, it allows the feelings of becoming a stronger human being and therefore physically healing your body in the process and improve your overall health.

Click Here to read "The Neuroscience of Giving" on Psychology Today.

10. Learning

Several things are responsible for shaping us as fully functional adults in this world. One of them is what we learn. There are many avenues of learning and what we are taught and what we teach ourselves are chief among them. The knowledge that we harbour, including that from all sources, textbooks, the internet, books, past experiences are prerequisite to who we are as individuals so it's very important to pay attention to what you are learning on a daily basis.

For me, learning and educating myself is the ultimate unwind tool because, as an adult, I like to think I have much more control and choice over what I learn now than when I did as a child. Though maybe not full control, some control nonetheless.

It has become apparent to me that what I learn now and in the future will determine which paths I am able take, how I shape my brain and essentially what kind of person I will become.

I've also realised, there's no good in trying to convince yourself that you will be the same person in 5, 10, 15 or 20 years because you won't. Just like you're not the same person you were a few short years ago. Most of what you know now you will forget unless practiced or studied. Your circumstances, how you deal with them and what you learn from them are what is going to determine how you end up and how your brain takes new form during the inevitable fluctuation of change.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” ― Nelson Mandela

...And the world is ever changing just like I am and you are, it depends solely on what type of education you provide yourself that will drive you to your ultimate destiny.

I unwind in learning because when I teach myself about new subjects I can relax in peace knowing that everything I'm feeding my brain is pointing in the direction to the path I want to take in life. This for me, is a very powerful feeling and a very calming feeling all at once.

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Written by Charlotte Deverill