Relaxation has many physical benefits — fewer headaches or muscle tension, better sleep, improved mood, a stronger immune system, fewer racing thoughts, better mental clarity and a lowered risk for anxiety or depression.

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Schedule some down time. If you’re stepping away from the computer only to pick up your phone or the TV remote, that’s not down time. Instead, play a board game, bake a batch of cookies or tend to the garden.

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Mindfulness is a way to actively engage in relaxation. Rather than worrying about the past or the future, be present in the moment. Meditation is one way to be mindful, so is muscle relaxation. Schedule a massage. Use that time to relax and live in the moment.

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Get moving. That sounds counter-intuitive, but exercise helps produce endorphins which make you feel better. Exercise doesn’t have to be a full-on workout at the gym either. Walk, dance, take a bike ride. Just move.

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Give yourself permission to relax. If you plan to relax every day while things are calm, it will be easier when you’re trying to relax when life gets busy.

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Plan for a few, easy New Year’s resolutions. If you try to change too much at once, that can be stressful. It takes about two weeks to drop a bad habit and two weeks to create a new better habit. Do one or two things at a time, and give yourself a chance to make them work.

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