101 Ways to Relax and Reduce Anxiety

101 Ways to Relax and Reduce Anxiety

I’ve struggled with anxiety most of my life. While meditating on a regular basis has helped, receiving BodyTalk sessions has made the most impact on my anxiety levels – so much so that I went through the training and became a practitioner myself. However, I’ve picked a lot of other tools along the way.

If you’re feeling anxious, can’t relax or just need to unwind, try something from this list and see if it works for you. Enjoy!

1 – Meditate – try the Insight Timer app

2 – Take deep breaths – exhaling longer than you inhale

3 – Take a walk or run outside

4 – Spend time in nature

5 – Put your bare feet on the ground (also known as earthing)

6 – Get fresh air

7 – Spend time in the sunlight

8 – Take a bath with Epsom salt and essential oils

9 – Listen to classical music

10 – Go to the gym

11 – Read a book

12 – Play a musical instrument

13 – Take a nap

14 – Drink tea (try chamomile, lemon balm, linden or passionflower)

15 – Stretch

16 – Talk to a friend

17 – Look at photos of nature

18 – Listen to sounds of nature, or spa-like music

19 – Read one of your favorite blogs

20 – Drink more water

21 – Reduce caffeine

22 – Take a day off work

23 – Visit a church, temple, monastery or a building with beautiful architecture

24 – Spend time near or on the water (ocean, lake, river)

25 – Cook

26 – Write a thank you note

27 – Go to the spa

28 – Go somewhere high and take in the views

29 – Get a massage

30 – Try acupuncture

31 – Clean out your inbox or clear your desk

32 – Write a letter to someone you haven’t seen in awhile

33 – Think of all the things you’re grateful for

34 – Open up or roll down your windows

35 – Go to lunch or dinner with friends

36 – Make your bed

37 – Exercise

38 – Visit a botanical garden

39 – Practice yoga

40 – Watch a funny movie

41 – Block time in your calendar to do something on this list

42 – Buy an indoor plant

43 – Spend time with animals (dogs, cats, horses, etc.)

44 – Go to a comedy show

45 – Rent a book from a library

46 – Spend time away from screens and wifi

47 – Eat outside

48 – Watch a sporting event in person

49 – Go to a meditation class

50 – Eat a bowl of warm soup

51 – Take a long shower

52 – Plan a vacation

53 – Sleep in

54 – Drink a glass of warm water (adding lemon if you choose)

55 – Go to bed early

56 – Play a sport

57 – Join a support group

58 – Paint or draw

59 – Color using an adult coloring book (or a kid’s book if you’d like)

60 – Ride a bike

61 – Use essential oils or aromatherapy

62 – Reduce sugar in your diet

63 – Watch a mesmerizing fire

64 – Take a vacation

65 – Go to counseling

66 – Get a babysitter and take some time for yourself

67 – Try halotherapy (aka salt therapy)

68 – Give yourself a massage

69 – Watch your thoughts and change the negative to positive

70 – Spend time away from social media

71 – Relax in a hammock

72 – Have a BBQ or dinner party with friends

73 – Take a class at a community center, college or university

74 – Clean your house

75 – Talk about your problems with a friend or family member

76 – Unsubscribe from emails and blogs that don’t bring value

77 – Declutter and get rid of items you don’t need

78 – Drink a glass of golden milk (tumeric milk)

79 – Turn on music and dance

80 – Revisit a hobby you’ve neglected

81 – Do something nice for someone else

82 – Finish your work as quickly as possible, so you can take the rest of the day off

83 – Light a few candles and turn off the lights

84 – Buy a crystal at your favorite crystal shop

85 – Hike in the mountains

86 – Make a snowman or snow angel

87 – Study a topic that interests you

88 – Go to a restaurant for dinner

89 – Have a picnic

90 – Go to the park with friends

91 – Take on a new hobby or something that intrigues you

92 – Go paddleboarding

93 – Try a new recipe

94 – Meal prep so you don’t have to worry about what to eat – saving time throughout the week

95 – Go on a road trip

96 – Observe your thoughts without engaging in them

97 – Lie down on the grass

98 – Play with a stress ball

99 – Make a to do list to free up your mind

100 – Shop at a farmer’s market

101 – Do something you loved to do as a child

 

About Laura

Laura Como, CBP is an intuitive healer specializing in energy psychology and energy medicine, alternative healing expert and the founder of My Natural Healer. Learn more about Laura.