Visualize to beat stress

Visualization is an easy stress management and relaxation technique that you can use anywhere, and it only takes two or three minutes. It’s something like a daydream, or pictures in your mind that can help you relax when your stress levels are getting too high. Stress is an all-time high for so many people. If you are experiencing a lot of stress, try to visualize to beat stress. For some it provides immediate release or it takes a few times to help relax for others.

If you find it hard to daydream, or create visual pictures, try deep breathing before you begin.

Create a visual picture

Cancun, Mexico, 2015

To get started, here’s a sample daydream. Picture yourself resting on the beach. You run your fingers along the sand relaxing completely and staring up at the clear blue sky. You’re there as long as you want, just feeling relaxed. Keep focusing on the enjoyable parts of this picture until you feel as though you were actually on the beach.

Here’s another example

It’s a cold winter’s day, and you retreat indoors to sit by a fire. You’re wrapped up in soft blankets, drinking hot chocolate. Outside, the snow is falling but all you hear and see is the sound of the fire and the flicker of the flames. You feel the warmth on your face, how it relaxes you and soothes all your muscles. You stretch, feeling so comfortable, calm and relaxed.

Let yourself go

Visualization can be difficult at first.  You may personally find it to be a waste of time, or it’s something you’ve never tried before.  Taking a mental timeout from time to time is essential for your health. With practice, it will become natural and relaxing.

Try it a few times and see how it makes you feel!

Learn some more ways to manage your stress with some of my other tips.