“An elaborate bath with Epsom salt, bath oil, body scrub, candles, spa music. Self-care is not selfish! I’ve kept a journal for decades, and it’s my constant companion. Cooking a gourmet meal: I’ve always enjoyed creating delicious food, and it never fails to make my loved ones and me happy. And yoga, whenever I can make it to the studio for a class, since I’m not great at doing it on my own at home. But it never fails to make me feel better.” — Melissa D., reader
“I like to lie down in a dark, quiet room to destress.” — Carol K., reader
"When I need to unwind, I usually sit down in my Big Comfy Chair, let the dogs jump up and snuggle, put on an audiobook, and play some mindless match-3 games on my phone. It helps me zone out, which is needed after a long day!" — Christina M., client services manager
“One way I calm down before sleep is reading — although, given a good book, this does the exact opposite: I will stay up hours past my scheduled bedtime and keep reading! A more uncommon way to calm down is to watch ASMR videos — head spa videos are especially relaxing for me. Finally, I will listen to sleep stories on the Calm app — or a podcast hosted by someone with a soothing voice.” — Ren D., editor
“Sunday mornings are my time for unwinding. After breakfast, I head downstairs where I have a sauna. I listen to some soothing jazz and meditate. This is followed by a warm shower and a cold, refreshing rinse.” — Jeffrey C., reader
“I love my quiet time! I work in a noisy grocery store, so when I get home (and in the car), I love to unwind to the sounds of silence. Now if I could only quiet the tinnitus in my ears! Not sure what life sounds like without that.” — Cathy W., reader |
