Just when we are completely recharged back from a vacation, we are already longing for that tropical island again after a week. Recognizable? Your email box is stuffed, the pressure is immediately high again, and there is so much to do.
One way to relax is by exercising. Sounds crazy, but if you are completely exhausted after work, put on your sports clothes and go for a run or take a bodyshape class. You really feel better from it.. Just take a look at these apps, handy for vacation, but also very good to use at home. But that doesn’t mean your mind is completely empty right away and that you can start the next day stress-free. A bit of yoga would be very good for that. For me, it also took weeks before I could really follow such a class completely relaxed (thoughts like: the laundry is still outside, shit I haven’t answered that email, and what should I eat came by all the time), but believe me, once you get into it, you don’t want to do it any other way.

Relaxing can also be very good with a bottle of wine and friends to vent a little, but you also have other ways to clear your head. And you really don’t have to go all the way to a yoga retreat in Thailand. I’ll give you a few iPhone apps that will help you relax. Light candles, maybe play some calming music, put on comfy clothes. Here we go:

Headspace 

10 minutes of meditation per day. Lie down comfortably on the couch. Or, if you’re hardcore, sit cross-legged, that’s fine too. Put headphones on your head, close your eyes, and listen carefully to what is being said. You can enter a kind of delightful trance. A pleasant voice tells you exactly what to do.

This app is free for 10 times 10 minutes, after that they want you to subscribe for 5 euros a month to delve deeper into it.

Relax with Andrew Johnson

You have a free version and one that you have to pay for. With that, you can download many more methods, but I think the basic version is already enough. This man teaches you how to breathe and whispers positive wisdoms into your ear. You can also lie down comfortably on a couch or maybe you prefer to lie in bed and listen to him before you fall asleep. Count on a good night’s sleep.

Calm

Here you subscribe. Dozens of types of meditation music for the background or in the bedroom before you fall asleep. There’s also a feature that monitors your sleep. You place your phone under your pillow and the next morning you can see exactly if you tossed and turned, how long your REM sleep lasted, if you woke up for a bit, that kind of thing. By meditating more or doing breathing exercises, you create calmer nights, which makes you more relaxed again. This app advises you on that. Fifty types of meditations for focus, creativity, energy, self-confidence, and sleep. New content comes every month, so you will never get bored.