Feeling a bit frazzled lately and could really use some relaxation tips! Whether it's deep breathing exercises, meditation apps, or any other tricks you swear by for unwinding, I'm all ears. Your advice could really help me find some peace in the chaos.
Thanks a bunch.
@hsmaan

Personnally, I do taiji quan. Not just for relaxation. 😇

I just smoke a cig and drink a cup of coffee. Mind you it's not for everyone.

You can start with basic things: proper sleep time, regular meals, enough water and so on. Pay attention to those and it may improve your overall mood and make more resistant to stress.

Meditation works best in the long run, but if done regularly, e.g. 5-10 minutes twice a week, it will make you feel more calm to some extent.

You can also try to go out alone: leave your headphones ( and preferably your phone) and take a walk for 10-30 minutes. You'll be probably bored, but that's totally fine as it gives your brain some time to process thoughts and feelings. It's a good refresh.

As for cigs and coffee, I'm afraid they will instead be draining you and make you feel exhausted in the end =(

Hope these will help and I don't sound too trivial 😇🙄 Take care!

    Praying, Reading, Walking, Music, playing JRPG, Endel.io (use it more for focus though)
    Workout also helps getting a clear mind IMHO
    Wim Hof Breathing is also fun, you will not believe for how long you can go without breathing after doing that.

    Would like to add some options to those already posted by @decembre-dhiver .
    Walking is great. If you can, walk in green spaces, grass and trees are very calming.
    Build some regularity into sleep habits. Even if you feel tired try to avoid daytime naps as these will disrupt nighttime rest. Catching up on sleep is usually not something you can do.
    Leave the phone. Catching up on emails or playing the latest game will not help you sleep. If you must use your phone (or PC) before bed then use a night filter to reduce the amount of blue light.
    Avoid tea or coffee in the late evening as they both contain caffeine. Drinking alcohol can also reduce the chances of a good nights sleep.
    Reading (a book) will make your eyes follow a pattern similar to REM phase of sleep and can help you fall asleep quickly.
    Try to bring routine into your life. Regular mealtimes and bedtimes help give structure to the chaos around you.
    Catch up with old good friends and arrange some quality time with each other. Pick friends whose company you feel comfortable with, you don't need to win the friendship competition.
    Good luck.

    IN NO ORDER:
    valerian root
    beer
    deep-breathing
    reading
    teaching yourself to get to that place in your head where you can smile and say tomorrow is another day
    long walks
    b-vitamins are under-rated

    **mega stressed: valerian (natural relaxant, not addictive, no contraindications)
    **long (45-60 min) walk is successfully relaxing for my mind 100% of the time, for decades
    **beer is only good if you are in a halfway decent mood. don't drink angry or upset. It's meant to be fun.
    **gardening or any task you enjoy brings zen (relaxation) during a day

    it's not hard, kid, you have to find what works for you and stick with it

    Being frazzled is understandable in today's world where interference (think energy, radio interference, disruptive energies) are abundant. I'm talking about politics, ideologies, wars, pollution, noise, toxic work environments, food products (processed ~) ...

    Exercise: now I don't live in CA anymore, but when I did, I used to ride the bicycle along the coast. A circa 15mi ride RT did wonders for getting my mind off difficulties, dramas and sometimes the abundant monkey mind. At present we go walking, do strength training, even drive out to someplace idyllic from time to time. Nature does wonders for the soul!

    Another element is to listen to pleasant soundscapes:

    Nutrition (never mind diets) plays a huge role in providing proper conditions to establish homeostasis as does oral ~ gut ~ brain health, as these affect one another like dominos.

    REM sleep is essential, socializing with spiritually mature people, ...

    As humans have a propensity for neuroticism[1], meditation is a great practice for grounding, taking inventory of one's life, gratitude ... the mind doesn't need to be active every minute of every day. After all, it's a calculator, it's meant for e.g. analyzing problems and synthesizing solutions ~ linear thinking [akin to digital]. Yet we live in an analog universe! You can intuit the rest.

    These are things I've discovered, read up on, watched documentaries ... hope it helps. In the end, you'll need to get to know yourself and discover what allows you to be at your best.

    [1]: negative thoughts towards self and others; critical, judgemental thinking - one cause of much stress for everyone involved

    Walking barefoot in grass or dirt, breathing techniques, massage all help me