Finding moments to decompress and relax has become increasingly important in the hustle and bustle of our modern lives. The demands of work, maintaining relationships, and the constant alerts from technology can leave us feeling overwhelmed and stressed. If you’ve been feeling stressed, you certainly are not alone. Most adults struggle with feelings of burn out and are searching for ways to unwind and decompress.
The more you’re constantly “on,” the harder it becomes to unwind and make time for yourself. Having a toolbox of self-care practices and tactics to help yourself decompress at the end of the day can be key to maintaining balance in your life. In this guide, we’ll share tested methods to help you create much-needed moments of relaxation.
Why Is Decompressing So Important?
Especially if you feel like you’re already at your limit when balancing your commitments, adding one more thing to your to-do list, even if it is making time for yourself, can be overwhelming — but decompressing is vital for your health and wellbeing. Chronic stress has long-lasting health implications like sleep problems, high blood pressure, and weakened immune functioning.
Being proactive in managing your stress levels can help you avoid health complications and make it easier to manage your stress throughout the day or week.
How Can You Decompress at Home?
When looking after your well-being, you’ll be better equipped to handle anything life throws your way. Prioritizing self-care and making time to decompress can help you maintain your busy schedule in the long run and make it easier to juggle all the areas of your life without overextending yourself.
1. Embrace Meditation or Breathing Techniques
This is a classic suggestion that almost everybody has heard before, and for good reason. Breathing exercises are a simple and effective way to help your mind and body relax. Whether you’re feeling stressed or just trying to build better habits to help you manage stressful periods of your life in the future, breathing exercises can help you practice mindfulness and even positively impact symptoms of stress.
Likewise, meditation can have a positive effect by helping you learn to clear your mind and live in the moment. It doesn’t have to be a grueling, hour-long meditation, either. Stopping when you walk into your home at the end of the day, finding a comfortable seat, and practicing a breathing exercise or meditating for even a few minutes can help you rejuvenate your mindset and disconnect from the rest of your day so you can fully recharge.
2. Practice a Daily Self-Care Ritual
Making your skincare routine a dedicated time to appreciate and reward your body and skin for everything it does for you can be a mindfulness practice in and of itself. If you’re looking for a way to rest and rejuvenate while practicing self-care, consider elevating your typical routine with a microcurrent or LED red light tool, which is a beneficial facial massage while toning, lifting, and smoothing the face.
Creating a new skincare ritual doesn’t have to take a long time. Start with the NuFACE Prep-N-Glow® Facial Wipes to cleanse and prepare your skin. Then, use the NuFACE TRINITY+ and Wrinkle Reducer Attachment to treat skin with the power of LED red light. This soothing ritual emits a gentle red light which aims to smooth lines and wrinkles all over the face while enhancing skin radiance.
Focus on being present and taking a holistic approach to your skincare routine by focusing on any of the seven areas this attachment is designed for. Hold it in place until you hear the beep — only a few minutes — and enjoy the refreshing feel of your skincare routine. You can even download the NuFACE Smart App for step-by-step tutorials.
3. Develop an Exercise Routine, No Matter How Simple
Getting to the gym every day can be challenging, especially if your schedule is tight or working out has never really been your thing. However, exercise is an important part of a healthy routine. It can help you prevent injury, improve your self-esteem, manage stress, and maintain mobility and strength as you age — and when it comes to decompressing, exercise is crucial.
Exercise promotes feel-good chemicals in your body, and it’s a great way to release stress, frustration, or anxiety from other areas of your life. Start small if you don’t exercise regularly and focus on forms of exercise that you enjoy. Even a five-minute stretching session in the mornings and evenings can be a great way to get your body moving.
4. Find an Outlet To Express Your Thoughts
Journalling, speaking with a therapist, playing an instrument, or practicing any type of art are all great ways to express your thoughts and emotions and channel them in productive ways. You don’t have to be good at any of these pursuits for them to be worthwhile, and it doesn’t have to become your whole life.
Spending a few minutes writing down your thoughts from the day — even if it’s only a few sentences — can help you organize your thoughts and de-stress. Likewise, embracing an artistic hobby, regardless of skill level, can help you release stress.
5. Disconnect From Technology
Technology benefits us in many ways today, but can also make it tough to truly ‘unplug’ and focus on the present. If you want to decompress, consider putting away your screens and turning off any notification sounds or vibrations for a little while. Ideally, it’s a great opportunity to spend some time outside reconnecting with nature, which can have a grounding effect that promotes relaxation.
Even if you just use that time to think about your day and have a cup of tea, turning off your technology can help you relax and unwind. Especially if you feel like professional or personal commitments expect you to answer your phone at all times, creating an occasional space for you to let your mind turn off and relieve that pressure can benefit your well-being.
The Bottom Line
Whatever your daily schedule looks like, learning how to disconnect and decompress at home can work wonders for your stress levels, mood, and overall well-being. It’s a simple practice that can offer you a range of benefits.
Especially when you use your skincare routine as a simple, practical, and effective way to promote mindfulness and self-care in your daily life, learning to decompress will help you radiate confidence from the inside out, no matter what life throws your way.
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