5 relaxing activities for those who don’t like meditation

Meditation can often help you find inner balance, remove yourself from stress and calm your thoughts. But there are other ways to find inner peace and relaxation through enjoyable leisure activities. In this article, we offer five alternatives to meditation that will allow you to rest your body and mind.

Reading

Reading is very useful for abstracting from reality and relaxing. By reading compelling stories, useful information, our brain switches to what we perceive in a particular moment.

Reading is best at reducing stress levels – by 68%. Silently reading for six minutes is enough to normalize your heart rate and relax your muscles.

There are also clubs of literature lovers, where you can discuss your favorite book, find friends and like-minded people.

But there are also exhibitions, museums, where you can just admire, enjoy art through visual perception, think, find solutions, balance.

According to the conclusions of British scientists, avid knitters are much more likely to feel happy and peaceful. Creativity significantly affects the level of anxiety, and in some cases it can even alleviate pain: in their study they reported that sometimes the use of art therapy in hospitals can reduce the length of stay of the patient in treatment.

Music

Listening to music has been shown to reduce levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. It is released when experiencing difficult emotions.

Music helps to lower blood pressure levels, regulate heart rate and relax. There is even music therapy, a method that uses listening to music as a therapeutic tool.

Sports

Exercise boosts mood and promotes relaxation not only on the outside, but also on the inside. Sport has a positive effect on sleep, reduces stress and anxiety levels.

At group workouts, it’s always nice to find like-minded people who will support you and share your passion. Scientists have confirmed that light cardio exercises – running, walking, cycling, swimming, dancing, active games – have a positive effect on mood.

If there are no animals at home, you can go to an exhibition, contact farm, swim with dolphins, it is also used as a psychological therapy.

It is important to remember that rest is necessary for our body. Therefore, try to get away from routine and problems more often and devote time to yourself.