How to Relax and Recharge (in 5 Minutes or Less

There’s nothing quite like a long, relaxing bath to refresh and rejuvenate you. But if you can’t spare the time or expense, here are five ways to relax and recharge that won’t take more than five minutes of your time.

1) Take three breaths.

Deep breathing is an incredible way to lower your heart rate,?relax your muscles, and balance your nervous system. Taking three deep breaths will give you a mini-reset—giving you more energy in just 60 seconds. Try it right now. Take a long, slow breath through your nose as you count slowly to five, then exhale slowly through pursed lips as you count slowly back down from five. Do it again if you feel relaxed! If not, take two and see how that feels. Repeat until you're ready to go on with your day/night. If you're ever feeling tense, annoyed, or out of sorts, give yourself 60 seconds of me-time and do it again. The benefits are worth every second; I promise!

2) Watch a quick video

The next time you’re feeling overly stressed, try switching your smartphone for a tablet. According to recent research from Indiana University, streaming a quick video is one of our best weapons against stress. Researchers found that subjects who watched just 15 minutes of funny footage reduced their stress levels by an average of 68 percent compared with people who didn’t watch any videos at all. Another study conducted by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that watching comedy videos also activates brain regions involved in creative thinking, which is great for helping you come up with innovative solutions when you’re stressed out. So make sure you have your go-to videos stored on your phone whenever life starts feeling overwhelming—you never know when they might come in handy!

3) Read something fun

Reading is a great way to relax, but we usually reserve it for when we’re tired. Instead of letting your brain rest while you lose yourself in an action-packed novel, try reading something lighthearted like a magazine, newspaper, or children’s book. The benefit is twofold: you’ll be entertained without tiring your brain, and you’ll be less prone to zoning out during an important meeting. Need more motivation? Studies show that people who read regularly have higher IQs than those who don't.

4) Take care of something you’ve been putting off

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, there’s nothing quite like a task that’s been hanging over your head to bring you back down to earth. If a few things are nagging at you, take care of one in five minutes—you might be surprised by how quickly it settles your nerves. For example, if paying a bill has been sitting at your desk for days, make sure it goes out. Then come back and start doing some of these techniques below! Remember: The goal is to get yourself calm enough so that you can do work well! We live in an exciting world where we want things now—we don’t always want to slow down, reflect and relax. But sometimes we need it the most.

5) Meditate

Meditation is a great way to take time out of your day for relaxation without having to think about much else. Just set aside five minutes, sit down, get comfortable, then close your eyes. Breathe in through your nose for three seconds, hold for three seconds, then breathe out through your mouth for another three seconds before holding again for three more seconds. Repeat it at least four times—or try aiming for 10—and make sure you do it twice per day until you’re back on track with your business. It may seem silly at first, but meditating will help reduce stress related to work and help calm any anxieties or worries that might be haunting you right now. You can even listen to guided meditation apps on your phone while walking around doing errands!

Conclusion

Set your timer for five minutes, then think about what you can do right now to wind down and relax. If you’re feeling stressed, schedule some time tomorrow to talk with someone about it. Try deep breathing exercises, read a book or go for a walk. Do whatever works best for you—and don’t worry about doing it perfectly—just get started!