How to Soothe Your Senses

Knowing how to soothe yourself can save your life. Doctors and researchers repeatedly report that stress is a significant contributing factor in heart disease. Given this information, it's beneficial to learn how to calm down and unwind. Life has many stressors, such as work, taking care of children and paying bills. People move about in a hurry, trying to get everything done. It's important to learn self-soothing techniques and to designate a certain time each day for implementing them.

Things You'll Need

• A quiet place to be alone for five to thirty minutes
• Exercise clothes and shoes
• A journal or blank piece of paper
• A pen or a pencil
• Friends
• A bath tub

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Instructions

Self-soothing Techniques

• 1

  Meditation and prayer help a person relax.

  Meditate and/or pray. There is no "correct" way to meditate. There are many types of meditation. None is written in stone and all can be tailored to suit your needs and preferences. Meditation can calm you and relieve stress. One way to meditate involves finding a quiet place where you can relax, closing your eyes and visualizing beautiful scenery as you rid yourself of everyday worries and follow wherever your mind takes you. Praying can be considered a form of meditation. Taking time to close your eyes and pray also helps you relax and unwind.

• 2

  Exercise is a healthy behavior that helps you cope with stress.

  Exercise. Although exercising involves rigorous, energetic activity, it promotes physical and mental health and well-being. It's a way to rid yourself of stress and, ultimately, calm and relax you. Exercising every day is a highly effective self-soothing technique.

• 3

  "Progressive relaxation" is a technique that soothes.

  Practice "progressive relaxation," which is a specific relaxation technique. Like meditation, it involves finding a quiet place to relax and close your eyes. Once your eyes are closed, you begin focusing on your feet. You notice how they feel as you constrict and relax the muscles of your feet three or four times. You then focus on your ankles, repeating the exercises you conducted using your feet. You progress up to the top of your head until you feel relaxed and tension-free. Practicing this self-soothing technique is extremely beneficial.

• 4

  Writing in a journal can release tension and sooth you.

  Keep a journal or just jot down on paper whatever you want. Writing down what is on your mind allows you to get it off your chest and release what you have been thinking and worrying about. It's a healthy and effective outlet that can soothe you.

• 5

  Talking to someone about your problems can help release tension.

  Vent, or talk, to a trusted friend or family member about your problems. As with keeping a journal, venting allows you to release feelings and thoughts that have been on your mind. Talking about your problems allows you to hear them in a new way. Having someone to listen to you is soothing and therapeutic.

• 6

  Laughing with friends is soothing and takes your mind off your problems.

  Laugh with a good friend. Laughter really can be the best medicine. Laughing a little each day can be very soothing and comforting. It can lighten your mood and allow you to put things in a more positive perspective.

• 7

  Relax in a warm bath.

  Take a long, warm bath. Bathing in warm water is relaxing and soothing. Taking the time each day to do this gives you a special time to be alone and unwind. You can look forward to this personal and private time to rejuvenate yourself and prepare to take on the next day.