Relaxation Techniques:
The Best Ways to Find More Calm
Relaxation looks different for everyone. While one person finds calm through meditation, someone else might need movement, music or a long walk before they can truly switch off. For some, jogging is relaxation, for others, relaxation means simply sitting still and doing nothing.
So it's not about finding the one perfect relaxation technique. It's far more important to discover what helps you personally let go of stress, get out of your head and come back to yourself.
Sometimes what we need is stillness. Sometimes it's movement. Sometimes it's nature, touch, or simply a moment where we bring our attention consciously back to ourselves.
My Favourite Relaxation Techniques for Everyday Life
1. Walking Barefoot and Grounding Yourself
One of my favourite ways to come back to myself is through contact with nature. And sometimes, that can be as simple as taking off your shoes.
Stand barefoot on a lawn, in the sand, or on any other natural surface. Consciously notice how the ground feels beneath your feet. Is it warm or cool? Soft or firm? Try, for a moment, to bring your full attention into your feet.
If you like, you can close your eyes and imagine roots growing from the soles of your feet, reaching deeper and deeper into the earth. With every breath, allow yourself to let go a little more and feel held and connected.
You don't need to turn this into a long practice. Even a few conscious minutes in nature can be a lovely little ritual to bring you out of the mental carousel and back into the here and now.
2. Just Shake It Off
We don't always need to go still to relax. Sometimes it's quite the opposite that helps.
Stand with your feet hip width apart and start by loosely shaking out your hands and arms. Then let your shoulders and legs join in, until eventually your whole body is moving. Let your movements get bigger, and try not to worry about how it looks.
You can put on a song you love and just move for two or three minutes.
Afterwards, stand still for a moment. Close your eyes and tune in. How does your body feel now?
Especially when I'm stuck in my head, I love this kind of movement. It brings me back into my body and helps me let things go, even if just for a moment.
And if you have kids, chances are pretty good you won't be jumping around the flat alone for long. That's certainly how it works in our house, and we usually all end up shaking off a bit of energy together.
3. Ecstatic Dance: Moving Without Overthinking It
Dancing can be incredibly freeing. And it doesn't need any choreography or the right steps.
Ecstatic dance is really about letting your body move intuitively. Put on music that stirs something in you, close your eyes if you'd like, and let your body decide how it wants to move.
Maybe you just want to sway gently at first. Maybe you want to jump, spin, shake it out, or eventually dance across the whole room.
Try not to judge your movements. This isn't about dancing beautifully, it's about feeling, and yes, that can look pretty silly sometimes. That's actually a good sign: the moment I stop thinking about how my movements look and just follow the music, I usually notice I've truly arrived in the moment.
For me, dancing is one of the loveliest ways to get out of my head, move emotions through my body and reconnect with myself.
4. A Quick Acupressure Exercise for Everyday Moments
Touch can also help you pause for a moment.
One point you can easily try yourself sits between your eyebrows. In acupressure, this area is often referred to as Yintang.
Close your eyes and gently place a fingertip on the point between your eyebrows. Apply a light, comfortable pressure and stay there for about 30 to 60 seconds. Keep breathing naturally throughout.
Try not to aim for anything in particular in this moment. Just bring your attention to the touch itself, and how it feels.
It's a simple exercise you can do on the go or in a stressful moment, and all you need is a minute.
5. The Physiological Sigh: A Short Breathing Exercise
If you notice everything is starting to feel like a bit much, you can try a very short breathing technique known as the physiological sigh.
Breathe in through your nose. Then, without breathing out, take a second, smaller breath in through your nose before slowly and fully breathing out through your mouth.
Repeat this a few times and simply notice how your body feels.
The lovely thing about this exercise is that it doesn't need much time or preparation. You can do it at your desk, in the car before an appointment, or in a quiet moment at home.
6. Breathwork: When You Want to Go Deeper
A quick breathing exercise you can use in everyday life is quite different from a longer, guided breathwork session.
In breathwork, the breath is used deliberately over a longer period of time. Depending on the method, the experience can vary a lot. Some sessions are calm and meditative, others much more intense.
I personally love breathwork because conscious breathing is such a powerful way for me to shift my attention away from the outside world and turn inward.
If you're new to breathwork, it's worth starting with a guided session. My personal tip: I regularly use the guided sessions from Breathe with Sandy.
For more intense breathwork methods, it's worth looking into possible contraindications beforehand and, if needed, having your first experiences with qualified guidance.
7. Tense First, Then Release
Sometimes it's not that easy to simply tell your body to relax. In that case, it can help to consciously do the opposite first.
Clench your hands into fists. Pull your shoulders up and, at the same time, tense your legs and your belly. Hold the tension for a few seconds. Then let it all go at once.
Open your hands, let your shoulders drop, and consciously feel the difference between tension and release.
Repeat the exercise two or three times. What's especially interesting is the moment right after you let go. Stay there for a moment and notice what's shifted.
8. Using Your Senses to Return to the Here and Now
When your thoughts keep jumping between the past, the future and the next to-do list, it can help to bring your attention consciously to your immediate surroundings.
Look around and notice, one by one:
- 5 things you can see
- 4 things you can feel
- 3 things you can hear
- 2 things you can smell
- 1 thing you can taste
Take your time with each one.
You might suddenly notice sounds that were completely in the background before. The warmth of your clothing on your skin. A smell in the room, or the feeling of your feet on the ground.
The exercise gently draws your attention away from your thoughts and back to the present moment.
Which Relaxation Technique Is Right for You?
You may have already noticed while reading that some of these exercises immediately appeal to you, while others don't quite resonate in the same way. That's exactly the point.
You don't have to meditate just because meditation is considered relaxing. And you don't have to lie still on the sofa if your body is actually asking to move.
Try different things and notice how you feel afterwards.
And maybe a simple question can help: what do I need right now?
Movement or stillness? Nature or time alone? Music or silence? Touch or space for yourself?
The better you get at answering that question for yourself, the easier it becomes to bring small moments of relaxation into your everyday life, and find your way back to yourself again and again.
If you notice you're especially drawn to the quieter, stiller exercises here, it might be worth a look at my meditation techniques, where I go a little deeper into stillness. And if evenings in particular feel hard to wind down from, you'll find a few targeted ideas in my article on Reiki for sleep problems.
Frequently Asked Questions about Relaxation Techniques
Which relaxation technique is right for me?
Relaxation is very personal. While some people need calm and stillness, others find it through movement, music, nature or touch. Try different methods and notice what feels good to you. And keep in mind that what feels right can change from day to day, too.
How quickly do relaxation techniques work?
Sometimes a few mindful minutes are enough to pause, step out of the rush of everyday life and bring your attention back to yourself and your body. Other days, it might take a little longer. Try not to approach it expecting to relax as quickly as possible, since that expectation can create new pressure of its own.
Is there a relaxation technique that always works?
Probably not. And that's exactly why it's worth getting to know different options. Maybe you need movement today and would rather walk barefoot through nature tomorrow, or just sit quietly for a moment. Ask yourself less what you should do, and more: what do I need right now?
Craving Even More Calm?
If you'd like to experience this kind of calm with some guidance, I'm happy to come to you at home or connect with you through distance Reiki.
You're also welcome to follow me on Instagram, where I share more from time to time on wellbeing and relaxation.