Ah, relaxation station: Celebrating National Relaxation Day the relaxing way

In a world where we’re tethered to our phones, business work seeps into our home lives, and AI shoves information down our throats, it can be tough to just chill out. 

Let’s set a cozier scene: You have nowhere to be, no mess to clean, no person to call, and no commitments to keep. You, my friends, are ready to relax, and it’s the perfect day to do so. For today, August 15, is National Relaxation Day.

Relaxation techniques

As fellow busybees, we understand that sometimes you just need to get things done. However, today isn’t that day. Today, we’re going to take a chill pill, slow down, and enjoy some relaxation. (A good start would be looking at your list of fully validated and standardized addresses. That always relaxes me.)

Maybe you’ve been pushing yourself hard for so long that you don’t even know how to relax. Don’t worry. We’ve got you. Let’s explore a few different ways you can take full advantage of the day. We’ll list them here in no particular order so that you can decide which one’s for you.

Pamper palace

These connoisseurs of calm enjoy taking care of their bodies, a great way to relax. They take a long bubble bath or hot shower at home, get a massage or facial from a spa, cut their hair (maybe let a stylist do this), get a mani/pedi, or even eat comfort foods to soothe a grumbly tummy. My personal favorite? Sleep. Sleep is good. 

Brain buffet

There’s nothing quite like relaxing the body while feeding the mind. These serenity chasers find peace by exploring their thoughts through mindfulness practices, meditation, journaling, reading a book, aromatherapy, playing a board game, or listening to a podcast. They leave feeling refreshed and enlightened with a brain full of knowledge.

Get crunchy with it

Some granola gurus out there know connecting with nature is where it’s at for relaxation. You’ll find these tranquility seekers visiting parks or nature reserves, stargazing, picnicking, birdwatching, and just all around exploring the great outdoors. They feel relaxed being with Mother Nature.

Crafty not cranky

These peaceful Picassos really like to relax with a paintbrush in hand, although we don’t recommend doing so on top of your artwork unless you intend to become a part of it once it’s dried. Other creative relaxers enjoy playing musical instruments, writing, knitting, baking, puzzling, and scrapbooking. They get a souvenir at the end of it to remember the great time they had while relaxing. 

Physical activities

We know. WE KNOW! We said we were relaxing here, but some people really feel relaxed while being active. Exercise shares many of the same physiological and psychological benefits as meditation. This flavor of relaxing can involve gardening, fishing, walking, dancing, swimming, running, stretching, exercising, or yoga-ing. (It’s a word. Relax.) Stress-busting is the name of the game when these peeps get active.

Media maniac

Sometimes, it’s better to let other people do the thinking for you. These rest experts find their zen by consuming various forms of entertainment. From watching movies to binging a series, from video gaming to internet surfing, and from TikTok and Instagram reels to Vine throwbacks on Youtube (where are my millennials at?), getting cozy doesn’t have to be too crazy. Just Netflix and chill, bro.

Calm conclusion

Hopefully, this article put you to sleep because whether you're pampering yourself like a calm connoisseur, feeding your mind at the brain buffet, or getting crunchy with nature, there's no wrong way to celebrate National Relaxation Day. Remember, today is all about you. And if anyone dares to interrupt your relaxation, just remind them it's August 15, and you're busy not being busy. So kick back today and relax how you want—because you've earned it, Champ. Happy National Relaxation Day!