100 Ways to relax
Relaxation is talked about alot and for good reason. As a naturopath stress management is a daily conversation and I see the benefits almost instantly when women give it a go.
Lowering stress isn’t just about feeling calmer; it’s been shown to support everything from reducing bloating, PMS, and insomnia to improving skin, fertility, and energy levels. All of this hinges on one key system: the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis — your body’s central stress response network.
Most of us already know that chronic stress isn’t good. But in the midst of busy lives, demanding schedules, and an overstimulating world, actually getting into a state of relaxation can feel… elusive. So we’ve gathered something to help — a list of 100 ways to relax, based on what our patients have shared with us over the years.
Our suggestion? Choose your top 10 and carve out 10–60 minutes each day to enjoy one of them. Small rituals, big impact.
Top 100 Ways to Relax
- Run an epsom salt bath
- Have a long shower
- Meditate
- Read a book
- Make a cup of tea
- Enjoy tech-free time
- Sit in the sun
- Give yourself a home manicure
- Let your skin soak up a face mask
- Nourish your hair with a hair mask
- Brush your hair mindfully
- Moisturise your body
- Give yourself a foot massage
- Practice yoga nidra
- Buy a plant and tend to it daily
- Infuse oils around the house
- Mindfully eat a meal, really taste the food
- Go for a walk without your phone
- Have a meaningful conversation
- Write someone a letter
- Dance around the living room
- Listen to a whole album start to finish
- Watch a funny cat video on youtube
- Have a glass of wine
- Journal
- Enjoy yin yoga at home
- Choose and play a song that suits your mood that day
- Cook a new dish every week
- Draw
- Paint
- Buy blue-blocking lights for your home
- Read poetry
- Go to an open mic night
- People watch
- Clean your living spaces
- Play a board game
- Learn an instrument
- Organise your clothes
- Complete a puzzle
- Call a friend
- Call your mum
- Gaze into your partner or a friend’s eyes for a minute
- Stretch
- Do something nice for a stranger
- Bake a cake
- Gaze at the clouds
- Walk barefoot on the sand
- Walk barefoot on the grass
- Watching dogs play at the park
- Submerge yourself in the ocean
- Watch a sunrise
- Watch a sunset
- Go to the cinema
- Watch a play
- Watch live music
- Help a friend with something
- Laugh with your niece
- Get a massage
- Go to a float tank
- Go to an infrared sauna
- Go for a nature walk
- Go to the beach
- Write down 10 things you are grateful for
- Take your dog for a walk
- Join a book club
- Take up dance
- Enroll in a creative course
- Get lost in your imagination
- Knit a scarf
- Climb a tree
- Clean your junk draw
- Learn something new
- Lie down and do nothing (tech-free)
- Listen to the sounds around you
- Write 10 things you like about yourself
- Go on a road trip
- Plan a holiday
- Learn calligraphy
- Make a beeswax wrap
- Make your own almond milk
- Buy and tend to a Bonzi tree
- Restore old furniture
- Mend your old clothes
- Write a love letter
- Cuddle someone
- Get intimate with your partner
- Teach your dog a new trick
- Make a casserole for a friend who has a newborn
- Go to the Blue Mountains
- Give yourself a head massage
- Put on an eye mask
- Learn origami
- Learn the words of your favourite song
- Laugh with a friend
- Make your own face cream
- Spray lavender on your pillowcase
- Go to an art show
- Make someone laugh
- Reflect on the good in your life
- Sing in the shower
If tea is your go-to for relaxation and stress management we recommend our Pause or Sleep tea.
Listen to 100 ways to relax with Dr Natasha Andreadis, GYN OB and Jennifer Ward, Naturopath here