There are days when everything feels like too much. Too much noise, too many demands, too many things to do, think about, and check off never-ending to-do lists. That’s when we feel the urgent need to hit pause. To step away from the hustle and bustle, the endless scrolling, and the noise around us that eventually becomes noise in our heads. We long for a moment when time stands still, a chance to slow down and breathe, a break, or a stress-relieving activity that brings us back to what really matters. So, if you’re looking for a little clarity amid the chaos of everyday life, here are 6 activities to help you relax—try them as often as you like!
1 - Try Forest Bathing
Forest bathing, also known as shinrin-yoku or sylvotherapy, is a practice that originated in Japan in the 1980s to help combat stress and overwork. The idea? Walk slowly through the forest and take in nature with all your senses.
The rustling of leaves in the wind, birds singing, the scent of moss… Little by little, everything around you feels more alive and comforting. And if you feel like it, why not hug a tree to relax even more? No, it’s not weird—it’s tree hugging!
Hugging a tree is said to help you tap into its energy and recharge your batteries—apparently even more effectively than charging your phone (which, by the way, you might want to leave at home for this outing…). There’s no solid scientific evidence for that yet, but one thing is certain: walking can help lower cortisol levels, and cortisol is a hormone associated with stress. So, are you ready to disconnect from your smartphone and treat yourself to a little stress-relieving time outdoors?
2 - Let Sounds Carry You Away
Sounds have an amazing ability to help us relax, transport us somewhere else, or bring us back to the present moment. Classical music, birdsong, waves crashing in the distance, ASMR, or even metal if that’s your thing—the important part is choosing sounds that resonate with you.
A 2009 Mindlab study found that music could reduce stress by 61%, while simply walking could reduce it by 42%. Just imagine how relaxing a walk with your favorite music could be…
Instead of putting on a playlist of random songs, treat yourself to an entire album, from beginning to end, without interruption. Listen to it the way you’d watch a movie: with your full attention, curiosity, and a desire to understand what the artist is trying to express. The music becomes more than just a soothing backdrop—it takes you on a journey of sound.
3 - Read to Relax (and for the Pleasure of It)
Reading may be falling out of favor, but it helps your body relax. A British study conducted by the University of Sussex found that stress levels can drop by 68% after just six minutes of reading. Your heart rate slows, your muscles relax—what better way to unwind? Ideally, do it without a screen, with a real book and actual pages to turn…
Whether it’s a novel, a collection of poems, a comic book, or even a cookbook, the genre doesn’t matter as long as you get lost in it. And if you doubt the power of words, there are even bibliotherapists: specialists who recommend books on psychology, self-help, or fiction to help you take care of yourself.
In the United Kingdom, doctors can even prescribe library memberships to their patients. A genuine “literary prescription” that has been recognized as a natural stress reliever since 2013!
4 - Relax With a Puzzle
Doing a puzzle is like meditating without even realizing it. You focus without any pressure, fitting the pieces together one by one, as if you were putting your thoughts in order. The picture slowly takes shape, silence settles in, and time finally slows down. Before you know it, you’ve entered a state of flow.
With so many benefits of puzzles for both body and mind, they’re the perfect activity for putting the world on pause and reconnecting with yourself. And forget those kitschy puzzles featuring kittens in bow ties sitting in baskets. These days, there’s no shortage of original and inspiring puzzles to help you unplug and escape for a while.
And then there’s that small but very real joy of finding the right piece. And when you’re working on a 1,000-piece puzzle, imagine how satisfying it feels to put the final piece in place… Dissectologists know exactly what we mean! It’s a simple yet powerful way to unwind and let stress melt away.
👉 Related Reading: The Benefits of Collaborative Jigsaw Puzzles
5 - Sing Solo or With Others
What if making a little noise could help you find some peace and quiet? Singing or playing a musical instrument can boost your mood and release muscle tension. You don’t need to be a virtuoso or have perfect pitch. What matters is expressing yourself, feeling the music, and breathing deeply as you unwind.
Singing activates areas of the brain associated with pleasure and releases dopamine (a hormone associated with reward) and oxytocin (a hormone associated with bonding and trust). Just a few notes, even in the shower, can be enough to lift your mood. As for playing an instrument, it calls for gentle focus and a sense of being present that helps keep distracting thoughts at bay.
And what about singing with others? Research suggests that just 20 minutes of singing can increase feelings of happiness and reduce sadness and worry (Frontiers in Psychology, 2017). The effects may be even more pronounced when you sing in a choir…
6 - Take a Nap to Unwind
A nap as a way to relax? Absolutely! In fact, napping might just be the ultimate stress-relieving activity. In a world that values productivity at all costs, giving yourself permission to take a break and drift off to sleep can feel like a small act of resistance… but above all, it’s a way to be kind to yourself.
The stress-relieving benefits of napping are well established: cortisol levels drop, and your brain gets a much-needed break. The question is, how long should you nap? According to NASA, a 26-minute nap can improve cognitive performance by 34% and alertness by 54%! But if your goal is simply to relax and lift your mood, even a quick power nap can do the trick.
👉 Related Reading: How to Embrace Slow Living in Your Everyday Life
Have you picked your favorite from these six stress-relieving activities? If you prefer to keep your hands busy, we’ve put together a list of 13 hands-on activities to help you unwind at home. Making something with your hands can help you enter a state of flow—that calm, focused feeling when you lose track of time. You don’t need to be an artist: the joy is in the process, not the finished product…
Sources:
A Study Investigating the Relaxation Effects of Music
Frontiers in Psychology article
Le Monde Podcast: The Incredible Powers of Napping
The Newsstand - 1000-piece puzzle
