It is so important to give yourself time to relax each day. Between school, work, and socializing, life can be exhausting. Everyone deserves time to take a break, unwind, and let themselves, relax, free of any distraction. First, begin by eliminating the biggest distraction of them all: your phone. Yes, I know, it is your best friend, it goes everywhere with you, and trust me, mine does too. However, We all need to spend some time alone;in fact, it is a necessity.
I’m not trying to tell you to ditch your phone forever, give yourself anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour of phone free time a day. Next, you’re probably going to come up with an excuse of how you don’t have time in your day for this. I get it, we’re all busy people, but to keep leading successful, happy lives, we need downtime.
Whether it be before you go to bed or in between classes, give yourself a chance to unwind for a little while. I have compiled a list of things to fill up this gadget-free time with and here they are…
Write
This can be anything from journaling to writing poetry. If you’re having a bad day, write it out. If you’re having a good day, write it out. If you need to get off your chest, write it out. Writing is not only a great way to spend some time with your thoughts, but it can be so beneficial to your mental health.
Go for a walk
Being outside is one of the best ways to de-stress. Leave your phone at home or if you don’t feel comfortable doing that, put it on do not disturb and put it in your pocket. Take notice of what’s happening around you. The cars driving by, the birds, the people, the wind, the sun, literally anything.
Do a puzzle
I don’t know if this is just me, but I’ve been enjoyed puzzles. There is something so calming about it,and once it’s finished, you feel like you’ve accomplished something. You can try Sudoku or crosswords, or words searches, anything to utilize muscles in your mind that you don’t get to tap into as often.
Link for the puzzle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4OSVPH?tag=bfrachel-20&ascsubtag=4690547%2…
Read…for fun
This is a great chance to read that book that you’ve been dying to read for the past year. You can give yourself a break from reading those boring textbooks and pick up something a little more entertaining.
Exercise
Whether you belong to a gym or not, exercise is a great option to relax and get some endorphins flowing. You can take a nice jog in your favorite park, walk your dog, and maybe even attend a class that you’ve wanted to try.
Clean
Call me crazy, but I am a stressed, I clean. This is something that calms me down the most. This is the type of thing that you either love or you hate, but you never know until you try. There is nothing I love more than having a clean apartment.
Be creative
Try picking up new hobbies. Even if you’re convinced that you aren’t artistic, you may have some untapped potential. Try your hand at drawing or painting. It’s a great way to unwind, express so creativity and tap into your inner artist.
Yoga and meditation
Yoga and meditation may not be for everyone, but it can be a great way to unwind a bit and refresh. This can be a simple as sitting on your couch for 15 minutes and focusing on your breathing. There are plenty of great apps for guided meditation as well as YouTube tutorials.