Relaxation Techniques to Reduce your Stress

Achieving deep relaxation is more than just watching TV – it is a skill and technique that will help you to greatly reduce your physical and mental stress and anxiety.

Types of Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques help you to focus on calming thoughts and feelings, in order to reduce the impact of stress.
Techniques include:

1. Progressive Muscle Relaxation:

Concentrate on slowly tensing and then relaxing your muscles, starting from your toes and working your way up through your legs, torso, neck and head. Tense your muscles for five seconds and then relax for 20 seconds, and repeat through each muscle group.

2. Visualisation:

In this relaxation technique, you form mental images to take a visual journey to a peaceful, calming place. To relax using visualisation, try to incorporate as many senses as you can, including smell, sight, sound and touch.

3. Healthy Work-Life Balance:

Not all relaxation techniques focus on breathing and visualisation exercises. Keeping a healthy work-life balance helps to achieve relaxation and manage stress. Relaxation strategies to include in your day are:
•  Walking
•  Pursue your hobby
•  Massage
•  Art Therapy
•  Read a book
•  Learn yoga or meditation.

Relaxation techniques take practice. Your capacity to relax will improve with practice – remember to be patient with yourself. Choose a relaxation technique that works best for you and make it part of your day – this will help you manage life’s daily stressors more easily.