Tips and exercises to help you relax.
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Exploring relaxation can help you look after yourself when you're feeling stressed or worried. Have a look at these tips and ideas to see how relaxation can fit into your daily life. Don't worry if some ideas don't work for you – just enjoy the ones that do.
Watch our animation for 8 relaxation tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing.
Relaxation doesn't have to take up lots of your time. Just stepping away from something stressful for a few minutes or taking time away from your normal routines and thoughts can give you enough space and distance to feel calmer.
Relaxation doesn't have to mean sitting still – gentle exercise can help you relax too.
See our page on physical activity and mental health for more tips.
If you're interested in getting more active to support your mental health, take a look at our Get Set to Go campaign to find out more about how you can get active in your local area.
Learning to breathe more deeply can help you feel a lot calmer.
Getting in touch with your artistic side can help you feel more calm and relaxed.
See our page on relaxation exercises for more ideas on how to use creative activities to relax.
Spending time outside and in green spaces can be great for your physical and mental health.
Music can relax you, connect you to your emotions and distract you from worrying thoughts.
Technology can be great for helping you feel connected, but if you're using it a lot then it can contribute to making you feel busy and stressed. Taking a break (even a short one) can help you relax.
Even if you can't physically get away, your imagination can transport you to somewhere you feel calm.
Making space in your life for relaxation is only one part of managing your mental health. Our pages on coping with stress and anxiety have more suggestions for ways to help yourself.
If you're finding things very hard right now and the tips on this page don't feel possible, it is ok to ask for help. See our pages on seeking help for a mental health problem for guidance on talking to your doctor about options for support and treatment.
This information was published in October 2017.
This page is currently under review. All content was accurate when published.
References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.