My 5 best ways to relax on your own
- Masa Urbancic
- Jul 23, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 13, 2025
I am sure that everyone has their own ways of relaxing, so this list is surely neither exhaustive, nor lists the right ways to relax. Given our fast pace of life, the need to relax seems more important than it used to. Many things are relaxing that we do with others, such as hugs, talking, cuddling, holding hands, but sometimes it is not possible to relax with someone by our side.
Here, I list (my) best five ways to relax on your own and that really work! Most are grounded in neuroscience and somatic therapy, and some are just fun! Here is the list.
Feel the weight to relax
I don't think there is a better way to relax than to simply feel the weight of your body - especially if relaxing techniques make your body anxious. Simply feeling how the chair, the bed, the floor or even the Earth supports you, is a great way to relax your whole body.
Just putting attention onto your weight, the muscles will relax and naturally soften. You can do this anytime, anywhere. If you have a hard time feeling your weight, you can try autogenic training or a weighted blanket. But remember, in any case, practice makes perfect. Do it regularly throughout the day and soon you will see results.
The power of smell
The power of smell is really extraordinary. Of all the senses, only smell goes directly into the limbic part of the brain, without going through thalamus first - especially the amygdala (emotions) and hippocampus (memory, which is why scents can trigger powerful emotions or memories. Why is this wonderful news? Because you can just inhale a scent and it will have an immediate effect on your mood, without you having to do anything about it. Just make sure that whatever you smell, doesn't trigger strong memories or emotions. Choose something that is comforting and calming for you and you will feel the relaxation in seconds. I love to use essential oils for scents, especially Wild Lavender, Bergamot and Vetiver. I just put a few drops on a tissue or cotton pad and just inhale it throughout the day. But you can choose whichever scent you prefer - coffee, raisins, fresh bread, mint tea, whatever makes your body relax or jump with joy!
By the way, if essential oils give you a headache, smell it from afar. Have it a bit further away, so that you can smell it just a little. I had the same problem, but once I started putting the essential oil a bit further, it was great!
Look into the distance to relax
It might sound weird, but relaxing your gaze and looking into the distance actually activates your parasympathetic nervous system and therefore it relaxes your body. Relax your eyes and let your gaze widen, noticing as much of the space around you as you can with your peripheral vision. You will soon notice your body relaxing or simply an exhale.
Blankets, cushions, sweaters - whatever feels relaxing for you
I think it comes as no surprise that soft fabrics and anything that feels nice to the touch, will make you relax. So think blankets, soft cushions, comfy sweaters, warm socks, large scarves (my favourite!) - just let yourself sink into them. If you like, you can even imagine yourself being wrapped in soft, comforting materials on all sides—completely safe, peaceful, and protected from the outside world.
Wrap yourself in a hug
This is one of my favourite exercises to do when I am really anxious or just cannot relax, no matter how much I try. What to do? Simply wrap your arms around you as though you are giving yourself a hug. That's it.
It might take a while, but you will definitely start feeling your body shifting into a more relaxed state. This exercise is also great for feeling grounded or if you have sensations of dissociation. It gives a sense of containment.
So there you have it. I hope you enjoyed the list. Best to simply pick one or two and incorporate them into your daily life. If you can, do any of them for 10-20 seconds every 15 minutes.
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