Knowing how to be more relaxed is a life skill worth mastering. Chronic stress isn’t just uncomfortable—it can impact your health, mood, and productivity. Thankfully, the right relaxation techniques and mental relaxation strategies can help you rediscover calm and boost overall well-being.
8 Great Ways to Relax
Ready to feel more at ease? Check out these 8 trend-forward ways to relax, reduce stress, and cultivate lasting calmness.
1. Practice Box Breathing: The Instant Calm Maker
One of the best ways to relieve stress in the moment is the simple yet powerful “box breathing” technique. This relaxation exercise has trended among athletes, military professionals, and even high-powered execs for quick stress relief.
How it works:
- Inhale through your nose for 4 seconds.
- Hold your breath for 4 seconds.
- Exhale through your mouth for 4 seconds.
- Pause and hold for another 4 seconds.
- Repeat 4–6 cycles.
This measurable technique slows the nervous system, steadies your heart rate, and immediately helps you feel more grounded—one of the most effective ways to relax on demand.
2. Take the Microbreaks You Deserve
You don’t need a full vacation to reap the benefits of relaxation. Try microbreaks—short pauses once every hour just for you. Stand up, stretch, look out a window, or do a quick breathing exercise. Even walking to fill your water bottle counts.
Why it’s trendy: Microbreaks reflect a larger movement away from “grind culture” and toward mindfulness at work. They interrupt stress cycles, boost attention, and are a low-key stress reduction method for a busy day.
3. Mindful Movement: The “Hot Girl Walk” Reimagined
The “hot girl walk” trend took over social media with its emphasis on self-love walks. Grab your sneakers, leave your phone in your pocket, and walk intentionally for 20-30 minutes. Focus on the sensation of each step, sounds around you, or positive affirmations.
Why it works: Research continues to show that mindful movement and walking reduce anxiety and foster mental relaxation strategies. Let your walk double as gentle exercise and active self-care—a powerhouse combo for stress management.
4. Digital Detox Hour: Set Your Brain Free
Our always-connected digital lives mean we rarely unplug, even at bedtime. Schedule one “digital detox hour” daily (or at least weekly) to put devices away. Replace screen time with a book, craft, or simply sitting with a cup of tea.
Relaxation technique benefits:
- Reduces information overload and anxiety.
- Helps you recognize tension held in your body.
- Refocuses your brain—one of the best ways to relieve stress from digital fatigue.
5. Guided Visualization: The Power of Imagination
Want to feel instantly calmer? Guided visualization (also called “mental vacation”) is one of today’s most popular relaxation techniques. Find a recording on YouTube or try an app: picture yourself on a peaceful beach, forest, or mountaintop. Engaging your senses through imagination signals your body it’s safe to relax.
This isn’t just wishful thinking—it’s a research-backed mental relaxation strategy that helps lower stress hormones and anxiety levels.
6. Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR): Letting Go, Bit by Bit
Not sure how to be more relaxed after a stressful day? PMR is a step-by-step relaxation exercise in which you tense and relax muscle groups from your toes upward.
Why it works: Tension is often stored in the body without us even realizing it. By intentionally relaxing your muscles, PMR short-circuits the stress response, leading to a deep, physical sense of calm.
7. Create a Calming Ritual (Your Own Calmness Tip)
Trendsetters know: relaxation isn’t one-size-fits-all. Craft your own ritual—a cup of herbal tea every evening, a five-minute gratitude journal, or a gentle stretching sequence before bed. Anchoring yourself with personal rituals supports anxiety and relaxation habits, making relaxation a reliable part of your daily routine.
Tip: Pair your ritual with ambient music, aromatherapy, or soft lighting to enhance your relaxation environment.
8. Social Connection—The Surprising Stress Reduction Method
While alone time is valuable, don’t underestimate the power of social connection. Positive conversations, laughter, and support are among the most effective ways to relax and buffer against anxiety.
Mental relaxation strategy: Schedule regular catch-ups (even virtually) with friends or family. Sometimes, talking through your day out loud is a powerful way to process stress and find perspective.
Trending: Stress Management Tips for Modern Life
Want to stay on trend with the best ways to relieve stress? Here are some of the coolest, most effective strategies from experts and influencers alike:
- Forest Bathing: Popularized in Japan, this involves walking in nature and paying close attention to your senses.
- Sound Baths: Immersive music or vibration experiences using gongs and singing bowls.
- Journaling: Writing about worries or listing three things you’re grateful for each day boosts calm.
- Pet Therapy: Spending time with animals has measurable stress reduction benefits.
- Minimalism: Declutter your space to create a more peaceful, organized mind.
Quick Guide to 8 Ways to Relax
| Tip/Trick | What To Do | When To Use | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box Breathing | 4-4-4-4 breathing pattern | Anytime, anywhere | Immediate calm, easy to remember |
| Microbreaks | Short pauses hourly | During work/study | Breaks stress cycle, boosts focus |
| Mindful Movement | Intentional, device-free walk | Daily or on lunch break | Reduces anxiety, improves mood |
| Digital Detox Hour | No screens for 60 minutes | Evening or weekend | Alleviates digital fatigue |
| Guided Visualization | Listen to mental imagery audio | Bedtime or stressful times | Induces mental calm, lowers anxiety |
| Progressive Muscle Relaxation | Tense and relax each muscle group | Evening or before sleep | Relieves bodily tension |
| Calming Ritual | Create a personal relaxation routine | Daily | Builds healthy relaxation habits |
| Social Connection | Reach out for conversation or support | When feeling overwhelmed | Lifts mood, reduces stress |
Get Started: Small Steps, Big Results
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight to become more relaxed. Start with one or two of these relaxation techniques and let your calmness grow. Explore what works best for you—mix and match, or invent your own ways to relax. Stress is inevitable, but relaxation is a practice you can master.
Rediscovering ease isn’t a trend; it’s an investment in yourself. With practice, these stress management tips will help you unlock more serenity, better focus, and greater joy every day. So, breathe deeply, try something new, and welcome a more relaxed you.
Is It Harder for Women to Learn to Relax Than Men? A Deep Dive into Gender, Stress, and Calm
In the high-speed rhythm of modern life, everyone craves downtime. But while “self-care culture” urges both women and men to prioritize relaxation, research and real-life stories reveal that learning how to be more relaxed might not be an equal journey for every gender.
Are women truly finding it harder to unwind than men, or do the techniques and societal cues simply diverge by gender? Let’s explore the science, sociology, and psychology behind mental relaxation strategies, and why this issue is more nuanced than it seems.
The Stress Gap: Why Relaxation Isn’t Equal
“Have you ever met a truly relaxed woman?” Several journalists and wellness writers have posed this question, noting the near-invisibility of women who embody effortless calm in a society that idolizes busyness and productivity—especially for women. The reasons underlying this phenomenon weave together biological, psychological, and societal threads:
1. Societal Expectations and the ‘Busyness Badge’
Women often shoulder the lion’s share of unpaid domestic labor and emotional caretaking—even while maintaining professional roles. There’s immense social pressure to be a “superwoman,” which can make stillness feel like failure rather than wellness.
Tasks never seem truly “done,” and relaxation can evoke guilt or a sense of undeserved luxury—a mindset internalized over generations.
2. Internal Barriers: Perfectionism and Self-Worth
Many women report struggling to relax because of perfectionism and the belief that all duties must be completed—perfectly—before they can rest. Relaxation, in this view, is only “earned.”
3. Productivity Anxiety
Women frequently mention that being busy gives them a sense of self-worth, so stopping for downtime can actually increase anxiety instead of reducing it. You’re not alone if you find yourself “relaxing” by multitasking rather than truly letting go.
Biological Differences: Are Men Wired for Calm?
Biology does impact stress and relaxation—but not always in expected ways:
- Stress Responses: Men generally exhibit a “fight or flight” stress response, while women more commonly experience a “tend and befriend” urge—seeking social connection, nurturing, and support during stress. This has roots in oxytocin, a hormone that can promote relaxing feelings and bond-building in women.
- Hormonal Pathways: Though both genders experience the surge of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine, the greater release of oxytocin in women can buffer stress and promote social soothing. However, this doesn’t always make women feel relaxed—it can actually drive them to take on more emotional labor, helping others instead of themselves.
Emotional Reactions to Stress: Anxiety and Relaxation
Scientific findings consistently show that women report feeling more sadness and anxiety after stressful events, compared to men who might externalize stress or distract themselves with activities. Women’s higher risk for anxiety and depression (versus men’s higher risk for substance abuse in response to stress) suggests relaxation has unique emotional barriers for women.
Women are more likely to “internalize” stress—ruminating, self-criticizing, or trying to fix problems. Men tend to distract themselves—by working out, engaging in hobbies, or distancing emotionally. Ironically, this means women are often chasing calm through overthinking, whereas men sometimes access it by temporarily detaching.
Relaxation Techniques and Gender: Do Strategies Differ?
Studies around relaxation techniques, relaxation exercises, and mindfulness reveal a surprising twist: Women often benefit more from mindfulness-based stress reduction than men, particularly in areas like mood improvement and self-compassion.
- Women’s negative moods decrease more with mindfulness, possibly because mindfulness tackles ruminative thought patterns that are more common in women.
- Social approaches—like seeking support, talking through anxieties, and nurturing connections—are classic female stress reducers.
- Men’s favored coping—problem-solving, distancing, or physical activity—may help them “switch off” more easily at times, but not always address underlying stressors.
What Helps Everyone:
- Mindfulness
- Movement and exercise
- Intentional downtime (with no “productivity” attached!)
- Social connection (for women, especially; for men, as a healthy alternative to avoidance)