International de-stressing advice from cultures that have turned the science of a happy, healthy life into an artful way to exist.
FRENCH
petit aperitif
A small glass of wine, a side of cashew, pita chips, hummus, and olives.
Then it’s time to make dinner.
Take the time to enjoy the little moments of rest and self-indulgence you can sprinkle throughout your day.
RUSSIA
banya
A hot sauna.
Take a hot shower, letting the tensions of your body wash away. Feel the pulsating water on your skin, and the enveloping warmth. Research from Yale University indicates this triggers a brain and body response that mirrors emotional warmth, boosting your mood. Don’t take a shower longer than 10 minutes, this will dry out your skin.
DENMARK
hygge
We have no room to complain, it gets dark at 3:30 PM during winter in Denmark. That being said, they have some pretty nice ways of coping. Hygge means cozy. The Danish do this by being happy at home without any rushing to go and do anything.
‘Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.’ Enjoy the moment, just as it is. Letting the moment exist without any thoughts of what to do next is a very relaxing practice.
THAILAND
Massage
It’s vigorous and deep tissue-stimulating. Whether you do this for yourself at home, with someone else, or go to a spa, it is an incredibly de-stressing practice that alleviates held tensions in your body.
ARGENTINA
Matte drink
Have a matte party! The act of sharing food with others is incredibly calming and releases oxytocin to the brain. In Argentina, they enact this through drinking matte together, but you can do it with anything, so long as it’s a shared activity.
INDIA
Laughter exercise
Whatever you need to do in the morning to get you to laugh, do it. This act releases endorphins with the contraction of your stomach muscles. It will help you wake up and greet the day in a positive mood.
IRELAND
Winter Walks
In Ireland, winter walks are believed to wake up your brain and be super stimulating. Focusing on conquering the cold centers one and makes it difficult to stress about anything else. It gets you feeling present. And that is usually when the stresses of life disappear when you are living presently.
SWEDEN
fika
A coffee break with friends.
This custom has been in Swedish culture since the 1700s, it takes place usually at 10 AM and 3 PM. A jaunt to a local coffee shop for a coffee, a danish, and a friendly moment to take a breath and reconnect with the moments shared with others. This practice is another example of creating self-care breaks and moments throughout one’s day. Like little rituals for your soul.
CHINA
zu yu
Foot Soak
A foot soak before bed is both soothing for sore feet and good for calming a busy mind. It also is very healthful to let the toxins exit your body through your feet, not carrying them into the next day.
Add a handful of Epsom salts and 2 spoonfuls of baking soda.
“After 15 minutes, swelling goes down and circulation improves,” Zicu says. “It’s amazingly relaxing.”
With all of these different self-care techniques from all over the world, now you can de-stress easily as part of your day. Any time you want!
Enjoy life, stress-free.