7 Simple Activities to Help You Unwind

While it may feel questionable at times, there ARE easy ways to unwind when you need to. Even with a busy schedule at work and all that surrounds you in life outside of it, it’s essential to ensure that you're giving yourself this time — so it’s a good thing to hear that it doesn’t have to be hard! 

So whether you’re looking to unwind with a simple stroll through nature or you're looking to unwind with the support of special curated gift boxes to help you relax, we give you permission to ditch the guilt and get after it! 

Indulge in Nature

Everyone has a different coping mechanism when it comes to winding down after a long and tiresome day at work. Some people can muster up the grit to clear a three-mile run after an 8-hour shift, while others seek a calm and serene activity to gather their bearings and recharge for the next day to come. No matter which one of these you may relate with more, though, our recommendation will remain the same: take an eye-opening and weight-relieving walk in nature! This is one of the best ways to clear your mind of all the clutter left after a long day, and it’s one of the simplest ways to begin improving your cardiac strength, lowering your risk of diabetes and lowering your risk of depression. Along with this, “unwinding” tends to go hand in hand with relaxing and even resting. If this is your goal, then being enveloped in nature will only serve to help, offering up a soothing effect and sense of peace that will allow you to rest easy after. 

Embrace Art and Color

Freehand painting, finger painting, sketching and coloring (especially in coloring books) are all scientifically proven ways of relieving stress, improving overall mental health, inspiring optimism and relaxing the fear receptors in the brain. Forget the fact that you don't have a background in art and design — you don’t need that here! All you need is a pencil/paintbrush, a sketchpad/canvas and the freedom to allow your thoughts to flow! As your anxieties are eased, you may find extra enjoyment from the fact that this activity meant to help you unwind also has the added bonus of the amazing artwork you probably didn’t even know you were capable of creating! 

Just Listen

Listen to the world around you, listen to a podcast, listen to a friend talk or listen to music. This may seem like a stress-relieving initiative that’s too simple to be true, but music in particular is used often in clinical settings to promote physical and psychological health and well-being and in everyday settings to regulate mood and encourage a healthy mind. So skip the visit to the clinic and unwind often with some music that speaks to you!

Prepare the Perfect Bath

There's an unrivaled reason why some spas also feature a sauna (or steam room) as part of their relaxation method. Incorporating heat into a bath does more than just give you a deep clean. It’s also extremely soothing, especially after a long day or when you’re wound up! Hot baths have been used by many cultures around the world to promote wellness and rejuvenation, and have been popularly proven to be as beneficial for tightly wound muscles as they are for tightly wound minds. 

Mineral-rich contents like salts in your bath water will only serve to help further as well, especially when it comes to releasing tension, hydrating skin, promoting blood circulation, flushing the body of toxins and even calming arthritis. When it comes to salts, consider Epsom salt, Celtic salt, Himalayan pink salt and Dead Sea salt. Aside from this, ingredients like orange peels, certain flower petals, milk and even honey can be used to achieve unrivaled relaxation and rejuvenation.

Jot Down Your Day’s Journey 

Keeping a journal (whether it be focused on your daily activities, accomplishments, emotions or all of the above) is extremely beneficial for your well-being. This is because taking the time to reflect can help you let go of the day's stressors, improve upon how you handle stressors, notice patterns within yourself and much more. Along with this, the physical act of writing itself is just as impactful as the mental process. So when possible, pick up a pen and jot your thoughts down on physical paper!

Play a Game

Similar to painting and coloring, playing a fun-filled game is also another child-like activity that we mature busy-bodied adults rarely have the time to indulge in. This could be in the form of beloved board games, unique card games that you can play on-the-go, online video games where you connect with similar minds and more. Playing games, especially inclusive ones with friends and family, promotes laughter which helps to lower the stress hormone cortisol, while also releasing endorphins. If you're surrounded by loved ones, playing a game is an exciting and affordable way to de-stress and unwind. Which brings us to the best part of it all: you win either way!

Pursue Plants

Whether you're fortunate enough to have your own outdoor space or you’re set up well enough to sacrifice some indoor space for it, we recommend starting some seedlings or getting some small plants! And while gardening and planting are “where it’s at” when it comes to improving your overall well-being, simply having some plants in your space will have a significant impact on your mental state! From being able to think more clearly to being able to breathe better, the benefits are bountiful. And as if that wasn’t enough already, pursuing plants can lead you down many paths! So whether you utilize your outdoor space and start a grounded garden in the backyard or you sacrifice some indoor space and start a hydroponics starter kit for the kitchen, you may just find yourself with a new favorite hobby!

Reaping the Reward

Finding time to unwind is essential in living and embracing life. Mental rejuvenation and physical restoration are what you’re looking to unlock, and the methods above are key. So indulge in them often, unlock that mental rejuvenation and physical restoration and explore what’s on the other side of the door — living and embracing your life entirely!