Relaxation Through Simple Meditation

This is quite funny advice coming from someone like me that really needs to learn how to take a chill pill! Although I may be a person that is quick to become high strung about an issue, I am also the last person to rely on a quick fix through pills, medication, or over indulgences of unhealthy behaviors.
My favorite way of inducing a relaxed behavior is through exercise, but sometimes exercise alone is not enough, or I may feel a moment when I just need to slow down and take a deep breath. Try it, literally, take a deep breath and slow down.
Here is a tip that you can do any where, any time: Find a comfortable spot to sit or lay down. You may want to close your eyes, but do not let yourself fall asleep (unless you need to use these techniques to induce sleep). Try to find a place that is quiet enough that you can concentrate on your breathing. Pay attention to slow breaths in, and slow breaths out. Naturally your mind will begin to wander. Take note of your thoughts and tell them that you will come back to them later. Address them quickly, and let them go. Continue to concentrate on your breathing. Next focus on your body. Do you feel comfortable, are you relaxed. Try to relax every muscle in your body. Your mind will continue to produce an endless stream of random thoughts, some pleasurable and some not so pleasurable. Now is not the time to work them out. Tell yourself to let the thoughts go. Focus on your breathing, your body alignment, your muscles relaxing. Pay attention to each muscle from your jaw muscles all the way to your toes. Acknowledge each muscle and make sure they are each relaxed. Breath, relax, breath....
There are literally hundreds of benefits to meditative relaxation. Try this when you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed. You will love how it makes you feel.