Learning to relax is essential in our stressful, anxiety-filled lives. In fact, we spend our days resisting events, being afraid of one thing or another, and this exhausts us more and more every day. So how do we get back to calm? How can we regain serenity? Here are 3 easy-to-practice routines.

5 signs that it’s time to relax

If right now,

You don’t have time for anything, it’s a sign that you’re doing too much.
You tend to take everything the wrong way, because it’s a sign that you’re seeing enemies all around you, even among the people who love you most in the world.
You may talk badly to others, be curt and blame yourself a lot when you go to bed at night.
You’re under a lot of stress about an event. Deep down, you resist it, you don’t want it in your life, but it’s there and it frustrates you a lot.
You feel a lot of emotions. They’re strong, overwhelming and tiring.
If you recognize yourself in one or more of these situations, it’s time for you to learn how to relax.

Here are 3 steps to help you regain your serenity.

1 – Take a real break

If you feel that everything’s going too fast at the moment, now’s the time to take a real break.

What’s a real break?

Well, you need your sofa, a hot drink (or a cold one, depending on the weather), some good socks (or, on the contrary, bare feet, again depending on the weather), and you can add some background music.

That’s all there is to it.

Then take 10, 15 or 20 minutes and lie down on your sofa.

Close your eyes and savor the moment. Drink your drink, but not in the way you usually do, i.e. in a hurry. Take your time!

This drink is your sole objective for the next few minutes. There’s nothing else.

Forget everything else. Enjoy it. Smile.

2 – A smartphone-free moment

The smartphone is a wonderful invention, but it doesn’t really help us relax – in fact, quite the opposite.

In fact, when we spend too much time on social networks, we usually end up frustrated, even stressed.

Because, without realizing it, we’ve been comparing ourselves to others, comparing our lives and talking badly to ourselves: I’m not doing enough, why am I not as motivated as so-and-so, why am I not as lucky…

And, often, after a session in front of our phone, we feel bad.

That’s why it’s essential to take phone-free breaks.

That way, instead of looking away, you can come back to yourself. Put kindness and love back where there’s criticism and frustration.

You deserve all your attention.

Because relaxing means letting go of our expectations, jealousies and judgments, and simply being yourself. Fully yourself.

In concrete terms, I invite you not to use your phone for one afternoon a week.

You can also time your time spent on social networks.

Personally, my phone is always on silent mode, so I only answer calls and text messages when I’m available to do so. Next, I’ve removed all notifications, even those from social networks. Finally, I’ve reduced my use of social networks to a minimum.

And that doesn’t stop me from doing my job as a blogger, quite the contrary in fact.

Because I’m much more relaxed when I’m on my phone. When I’m on it, I’m fully there, I’m available.

And when I’m not, I’m also fully available to what I’m doing.

3 – A text to meditate on to learn to relax

Knowing how to relax means remembering that the essentials of life are very simple. It’s just that we forget this, and above all, we complicate our lives.

That’s why I’m sharing this little text with you. Sit down in a quiet place and take 10 deep breaths. Then read this text.

“I breathe out,
My stress, my anxieties.
Breathing in,
Peace, calm.

In this moment,
I, [My first name],
I remember
Of the essential.

I am not here,
To do too much,
To repeat to myself
That I’m not enough.

I am here,
Because I belong.
It was offered to me.
It’s a gift.

So I have nothing to prove,
Nothing to justify.
I don’t have to run,
I don’t have to be otherwise.

I am.
That’s enough.
That’s the main thing.
I am enough.

So, here and now,
I relax.
I dive into myself,
Into life.

Happy heart,
The soul soothed.
I have nothing else to do,
But breathe.

I breathe out,
My stress.
Inhale,
Calm.”

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover How to set up a daily routine: 7 essential tips
Discover Gratitude journal: 5 tips for a magical evening routine

In addition, I recommend this inspiring book on the subject:

The Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson, Miriam Z. Klipper
The authors delve into the relaxation response and suggest techniques for countering the harmful effects of stress.
In this way, you’ll be able to develop a calmer attitude to stressful situations. Over the years, I’ve given a copy to several people who seemed to be under stress. They all liked it and found it very useful. It’s one of the best and most useful books I’ve ever read.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself.