One of the most commonly given reasons that people use for drinking, especially in the evening at home or after work, is that it helps them relax. While this may be true, alcohol is essentially an addictive drug, and often people can find themselves having to drink alcohol to before being able to unwind or get to sleep. If you've decided to give up alcohol but are still struggling to relax why don't you try some of these alternative methods of relaxation?
A Hot Bath
Baths are one of the oldest methods of relaxation. In medieval times hot springs were known as espas - these were where people would go to relax. This is also where our modern word spa comes from. Tension is quite often felt all over the body. Submerging yourself in hot water is one of the most effective ways of relaxing all of the body's muscles. The build up of lactic acid in the muscles, caused by tension during the day, is much more easily expelled when in a bath. Adding some essential oil, like lavender or rose, have also been proven to increase the sense of calmness felt by those indulging in a long hot soak.
Exercise
Quite often an inability to relax comes from having an excess of energy. It may seem strange that after you've had a hard day in the office and feel exhausted, while your mind may be tired, perhaps your body isn't? One of the easiest ways to burn off some of this extra energy would be to go running or swimming. Many people find that although they start off feeling tired, as they get into their exercise they become more energized and refreshed. Later, when they've finished exercising, most find that they are easily able to relax at home or when they go to bed.
Meditation
Mediation is not just the preserve of Monks in the Tibetan mountain ranges. Anyone can mediate and most people who try it find it to be an extremely effective method of relaxation. Although there are lots of different types of meditation many of these methods can be learned easily and require no special equipment or training. It may surprise you to discover that simply sitting quietly counting your in and out breaths, focusing only on your breath, trying to clear your mind of thoughts is actually a form of mediation. Try it now. I guarantee by the time you have counted to 10 you will already have begun to feel calmer and more relaxed!
Tea
Tea is a wonderful drink. On hot days it cools you down and on cold days warms you up. Strangely, for a caffeinated beverage, tea is also extremely relaxing. Why tea is relaxing when coffee more energizing is due to theanine which is only discovered in tea leaves. Theanine acts to balance out the caffeine in tea creating a slower release of caffeine unlike the sudden hit your body receives from coffee. Tea is probably the perfect beverage to unwind with after a long stressful day.
A Hot Bath
Baths are one of the oldest methods of relaxation. In medieval times hot springs were known as espas - these were where people would go to relax. This is also where our modern word spa comes from. Tension is quite often felt all over the body. Submerging yourself in hot water is one of the most effective ways of relaxing all of the body's muscles. The build up of lactic acid in the muscles, caused by tension during the day, is much more easily expelled when in a bath. Adding some essential oil, like lavender or rose, have also been proven to increase the sense of calmness felt by those indulging in a long hot soak.
Exercise
Quite often an inability to relax comes from having an excess of energy. It may seem strange that after you've had a hard day in the office and feel exhausted, while your mind may be tired, perhaps your body isn't? One of the easiest ways to burn off some of this extra energy would be to go running or swimming. Many people find that although they start off feeling tired, as they get into their exercise they become more energized and refreshed. Later, when they've finished exercising, most find that they are easily able to relax at home or when they go to bed.
Meditation
Mediation is not just the preserve of Monks in the Tibetan mountain ranges. Anyone can mediate and most people who try it find it to be an extremely effective method of relaxation. Although there are lots of different types of meditation many of these methods can be learned easily and require no special equipment or training. It may surprise you to discover that simply sitting quietly counting your in and out breaths, focusing only on your breath, trying to clear your mind of thoughts is actually a form of mediation. Try it now. I guarantee by the time you have counted to 10 you will already have begun to feel calmer and more relaxed!
Tea
Tea is a wonderful drink. On hot days it cools you down and on cold days warms you up. Strangely, for a caffeinated beverage, tea is also extremely relaxing. Why tea is relaxing when coffee more energizing is due to theanine which is only discovered in tea leaves. Theanine acts to balance out the caffeine in tea creating a slower release of caffeine unlike the sudden hit your body receives from coffee. Tea is probably the perfect beverage to unwind with after a long stressful day.