Top Tips to Help you Relax and Unwind

I’ve kept it no secret that I have been really struggling of late and just before things really went downhill I had been invited to talk about some ideas to uplift and bring about a feeling of wellbeing.

When trying to choose ideas to include in this post, I was thinking about things that might help calm me. Both Ash and I have noticed that I am very reactive around scents, so I incorporated that knowledge into my choices.

I’ve also tried to think about the fact that I and many have been struggling with sleep during the pandemic. So with those two points in mind, I came up with some products which could help soothe you to sleep and pep you up in the morning. 

Relax and Unwind.

One of the hardest things right now can be relaxing and unwinding during the evening. The world right now is such a different place and while we have a pathway to reopening, it is hard to know how it will play out. 

For me, once it gets dark and the world becomes quiet, my brain starts running at 1000 miles an hour. I struggle to shut it down and drift off. 

Of course, there are simple things you can do to try and help unwind such as: 

• Avoiding blue light before bed. 
• Don’t drink caffeine of an evening.
• Make sure your bedroom is a relaxing and quiet environment to unwind in. 
• Turn off technology an hour before bed. 
• Keep a constant wake / sleep schedule. 
• Have a relaxing bath or shower. 

Of course, these are just a handful of ideas. 

When it came to extra items I could add into my routine that might help uplift as well as care for myself. I decided to delve into products that enhanced the senses.

From beauty products, for help with looking after myself and caring for my skin, while also playing into the fact that I do respond to smells, so introducing ones which offer a calming environment. 

One technique I quickly learned back in my time in hospital as a teen, was that playing music directly into my ears, was quite often more helpful than listening to it from speakers. It not only helped drown out outside noise but also helped quiet the chatter in my mind. 

Rest the Senses.

There are many products you can use to rest the sense at the end of the day and it may take you a while to work out, what is best for you.

However, personally, I find that creating yourself a routine helps. From having a shower, or wash before bed to using a good cream or oil both on your face and body can help begin the process of unwinding. It also offers you a chance to do a bit of self-care. 

As someone who struggles to often look after themselves, routing some self-care into my nightly routine has worked well. It not only means I’m doing one more thing to look after myself but I’m also going through the motions of trying to relax, using the senses of touch and smell.

Many brands, such as REN, offer sets that are aimed at night use. Personally, I really like their pillow mist which is perfect for anyone who finds the fragrance mix of Hops, Lavender and Frankincense to relax. However, with many blends on offer from different brands, it is worth trying different ones until you find a scent that helps calm you. 

Alongside using a pillow spray, I’ve also found that using a balm that is applied to your pulse points helps too. In fact, you can sometimes find a spray and balm that work in unison. 

With your skin calmed from the use of lotion and oils and washed from the rush of the day and your room filled with calming fragrance. It is time to think about sight and sound. 

Unwind the Mind.

If you are someone who needs a dark place to sleep and likes some sort of noise. Be that relaxing music, an audiobook or relaxation tapes. Then a sleep mask with inbuilt audio may work well for you. 

It not only helps cancel out any light but offers an adjustable audio via the inbuilt speakers. Meaning you can really adjust your environment to suit the amount of sound you like while cutting out background noise that may keep you awake. 

Plus as I said further up the post, sometimes playing sound directly into your ears can help cut out those pesky thoughts rolling around in your head. 

Hopefully using some of these ideas, alongside the more traditional techniques towards getting a better nights sleep will help you, as they have helped me at times. 

However, what can you do if you have a bad night? 

Well while the answer is on the whole not much. For me, I do carry on the idea of using scent to uplift. 

Uplift with Scent.

After kicking off the day with another round of the skincare routine. I always like to finish it off with a spritz of perfume. 

It doesn’t matter if I’m going to spend the day in bed or on the sofa, for me there is something uplifting about treating myself to a spray or two of fragrance. 

In fact, I remember my Mum telling me it was something she always found helps her as well. 

So go on, next time you wake up after a bad nights sleep, spray some of your favourite perfume and see how it helps you. 

What is your favourite product to help you relax and unwind? 

This post was written in collaboration with Very, however, all thoughts within are my own and honest.

Pin it!