You may find not having anything planned at all is the most relaxing way to spend your day. Consider sleeping in, waking up whenever you feel like it. Relax and enjoy whatever activities you end up doing, taking your time and fully enjoying it.
You might want to lay on the couch and watch some of your favorite movies or shows. Listening to your favorite music while you cook a delicious meal might be relaxing. Spending the day reading a new and exciting book can be a great way to relax and enjoy your day. Wear whatever you feel like wearing, but make sure your clothes are loose-fitting and comfortable. Feel free to go barefoot, too, as bare feet are relaxed feet. Give your toes a wiggle if you like.
The amount of sleep required will change over a person’s life, largely based on how old they are. Most adults need around seven to eight hours of sleep per night to feel rested. Lack of sleep can affect health negatively, causing you to feel tired more often and even lowering your immune system’s response.
Consider taking up a journal. Every day you can write about the things that went well or that you are happy for. Think about your friends and family, writing down your favorite moments you’ve shared with them. Try to write at least three things that made your happy during your day.
Try walking to somewhere new to you, exploring and enjoying your neighborhood. Walk around your favorite local park. Take your time and enjoy the sights and sounds as you go for your stroll.
A simple stretch is a toe touch. Stand up straight and then bend down, trying to bring your hands down to your toes. You should feel this stretch most strongly in your hamstrings. You can stretch the front of your legs by standing up straight, grabbing your ankle and pulling it up towards your back. Never bounce the body part you are stretching as this could cause injury. Gently stretch and hold the stretch for a few seconds instead of any jerky or bouncy motions. When you stretch an area imagine the tension leaving it and that it is becoming more and more relaxed. Inhale slowly and deeply as you stretch. Exhale fully and gently as you relax the stretch. Closing your eyes can help you focus on the stretch.
Start by focusing on your bare feet. Tense your toes as much as you can for about five seconds and then relax them for another five seconds. Do the same technique on each body part as you work your way up to your head and neck. If any area still feels tight you can repeat the technique to relax it further.
Massage your scalp by gently rubbing the sides of your head near the temples. Massage your face by using your fingertips, rubbing your jawline, hairline, cheekbones, and earlobes. Massage your arm by laying it flat on your leg and using your opposite palm to rub down your forearm towards your wrist. Massage your thighs using your palm or elbows, applying gentle pressure as you move down towards your knee.
You can create a safe and wonderful space in your mind and explore it, imagining it with all your senses. Repeating a phrase or word can help keep your focus on the phrase instead of bothersome or distracting thoughts. Try simply watching your thoughts and feelings, allowing them to pass by without judgment or attachment.
You might find that laying down or comfortably sitting are good postures for meditation. Make sure your clothes are lose-fitting and comfortable and that you have bare feet. Turn your phone off before getting started.
Sit down and close your eyes. Take note of your mental activity. Chances are you will be talking or thinking to yourself. Calmly watch your inner thoughts, images, or feelings that your mind produces. Your goal is to simply observe these thoughts without attaching or engaging with them. If you find yourself engaging with your thoughts, gently return your focus and resume passively watching them. You will find that over time you mental chatter will fade and grow quiet, affording you a calm and relaxed mind.
Get comfortable and close your eyes. Think of a place that you find calming and safe, somewhere that you love being. Try to see this space in great detail. Think of what the colors look like here or what items or people appear as. Try to see this calming space as clearly as you can. Imagine the sounds of this space. What noises can you hear? Take your time and really imagine that you can hear the sounds of your visualized space. Ask yourself what smells are in your calm and relaxing space. Inhale and imagine the scents as your breathe them in. Pay attention to how your space feels. Ask yourself what the temperature is, what some items feel like to touch, or what a breeze might feel like. Take your time and enjoy the space you have created, exploring and relaxing there for as long as you like.
