Build relaxation into your day

Most of us know that relaxation makes us feel better and more in control. It's like pressing a reset button and allowing our bodies to revert to a reduced stress state. That's why it's vital to build relaxation into every single day - not many of us can say, hand on heart, that we already do this. Life can seem to get in the way.

Here are some suggestions to help build relaxation time into your day.

• Go for a walk - the more time you have the better, but five or ten minutes is beneficial too.
• Listen to some music
• Spend time outdoors - ideally somewhere peaceful, such as a park
• Take up a hobby
• Have a massage to relieve tension
• Take a long hot bath
• Focus only on your breathing for 5 minutes every day
• Have an early night
• Stretch your muscles
• Call a friend
• Take a proper lunch break away from work
• Sweat out the tension with a good workout
• Practise mindfulness
• Plan to get off the bus a stop early and walk the last stop mindfully taking in the sounds, smells, how the air feels on your skin, etc.