Do you ever try to unwind, but you just can’t slow down? If you have a hectic lifestyle and your mind is constantly being stimulated, trying to relax can actually feel stressful.
Your mind is overstimulated.
Neurotransmitters, such as adrenalin, are designed to make you alert. They are naturally produced when you carry out activities that stimulate your mind or body. During the day, you can benefit from having these brain messengers in your system to help you feel good and give you energy. The problem is that when they are produced, they create the opposite effect of relaxation. So when comes the time to unwind, you will agitated. Anything that excites your mind, from watching a horror movie to using your computer late in the evening, can send a message to your brain to create the type of neurotransmitters that keep you alert and ready for action. So, if you want to relax, you need to cut down on stimulating activities as the day’s end. The more you focus on problems, the more difficult it can be to let go and achieve a peaceful mind. In order to de-stress, you will benefit from practicing meditation, or another method of calming your mind such as guided imagery.
Train your brain to relax.
To help you relax, develop a routine that you follow as a means of winding down. You can train your brain to get ready to relax by carrying out similar tasks at a similar time, every evening, before you go to bed. You might study or work late in the week, and socialize more on weekends, but eating and exercising at a similar time of the day, as well as enjoying a warm cup of milk, will help you gradually develop a relaxation routine. Another way to relax is with the Relax Melodies app, which allows you to mix soothing nature sounds and ambient melodies, along with sleep meditations.
Drain excess energy.
You might have excess energy if you haven’t exercised enough. If you have a sedentary desk job, or just don’t like exercising, you might find it is hard to loosen up. Either way, you can exercise by making small changes to your daily routine. For example, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, cycling to work rather than taking the car, and walking to the store instead of shopping online will provide you with physical activity.
Don’t stress about relaxing.
If you’ve been struggling to relax for a while, you might think it’s virtually impossible to simply unwind and as a result, become stressed. To help reduce anxiety, try new methods of soothing your mind and body that you haven’t explored yet. Your mind is more likely to readily accept a new way of relaxing than an old one you assume doesn’t work. Perhaps, you would benefit from a session in a floatation pod to remind you what relaxing feels like, join a yoga class or make a habit of soaking in an Epsom salt bath. There are many reasons why trying to relax can feel stressful. Identifying where your difficulty relaxing stems from can help you alleviate the problem.
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