Stressed? Discover the 4 Best Online Relaxation Tools
September 19, 2019 Category: Pop Culture
Click here to see Execulink’s Home Internet options
Do the laundry. Pick up the kids from daycare. Get groceries. Buy a present for your nephew’s birthday. Get an oil change. Book a dentist appointment. Reply to those 100 emails in your inbox. This is your to-do list, and as it swims in circles in the back of your brain, you feel your pulse quicken and your teeth clench—you’re stressed.
A little bit about stress…
When we are stressed and our adrenaline kicks into gear, the body releases the hormone cortisol to help regulate the changes that occur in response to that stress. For instance, it helps stabilize our blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Cortisol usually fluctuates throughout the day and night in a nice rhythm, and it’s important that it remain in that nice rhythm. The problem is that with our busy culture, we’re often stressed for long periods of time, and so the cortisol hormone is activated more often than normal, and this can cause negative effects, including:
- Impaired cognitive performance
- Dampened thyroid function
- Blood sugar imbalances, such as hyperglycemia
- Decreased bone density
- Sleep disruption
- Decreased muscle mass
- Elevated blood pressure
- Lowered immune function
- Increased abdominal fat (cortisol acts on the part of the brain that controls appetite, and makes you want to eat fattier foods)
This is why stress is bad—very bad—and should be managed if you feel it is becoming a constant in your life. Watch this video for a more detailed explanation.
Luckily for us all, we live in a world where we have the resources to manage stress right at our fingertips. There is a plethora of useful de-stresser tools on the internet and your phone, you just have to know where to look. Here are some of our favourites:
1. Relax.li
This website provides both relaxing audio and video to calm your soul. Want to be on a tropical beach right now? Or would you rather be in the mountains? This site has you covered. Our favourite option is the “Relaxed cat”, although its slightly more comical than it is relaxing!
2. Calm and Headspace Apps
The benefits of meditation have been scientifically proven time and again, and it’s obvious how this silent stillness can help decrease stress. But it can be difficult to just sit and not think. These apps utilize both visuals,audio and meditation techniques to help you relax and keep your mind focused. Upon opening the app, you’ll be encouraged to take some deep, calming breaths and the ease will set in instantly.
There are also programs to teach you how to meditate, improve your sleep, reduce anxiety, and build self-esteem. These apps are subscription based and offer free trials – so check them out today and see how they calm your stressful life!
Download Calm on the App Store
Download Headspace on the App Store
Download Headspace on Google Play
3. Adult Colouring Books
At some point in our busy lives, we stopped colouring. Suddenly we became adults, and it just wasn’t okay to do anymore. Well, we’re happy to announce that not only is colouring okay, but it’s actually all the rage right now! Adult colouring books are selling off the shelves because not only is it a fun thing to do, but it’s actually a great way to relax and put your mind at ease.
Check out Indigo’s selection of adult colour books here and order one today.
You can find some free, downloadable pdfs to colour here!
Why not try painting a song (seriously cool)? Check it out here!
Or making a beautiful design from digital silk (also very cool)? Check it out here!
4. ASMR
The last relaxation technique that definitely cannot be missed is ASMR, which stands for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. Although the science is out on why it happens, it’s essentially a tingling sensation that occurs on your head, scalp and spine, as a response to different auditory cues. Some people claim to feel “tingles” with certain specific triggers, whether it be from a light whisper in their headphones, to a slight tapping on hardwood. As odd as it might seem to have some stranger whisper in your ear, ASMR has become a popular phenomenon in recent years, which is why you can find hundreds of ASMR channels on Youtube. Even W magazine has a celebrity ASMR interview playlist:
Hopefully one of these methods proves helpful in your search for inner peace in your busy, hectic life. Just remember, our bodies weren’t meant to function properly under constant stress. For the sake of your health both mentally and physically, make the time to relax. You’ll be glad you did.
Why not start right now?
