5 Things You Can Do to Relax – Even Now

As citizens of Israel, we are accustomed to living in a complex reality even on "ordinary" days, but it seems that the current situation has brought us to the edge. Take a war that breaks out suddenly, add to it a constantly threatening security situation, sprinkle over it nonstop news, and you have an excellent recipe for internal tension. A lot of tension. In the last two months, it feels like we are all living in one big pressure cooker, but fortunately, there are ways to relax, and we can start right now.

Find Some Nature Outside

True, the security situation doesn't always allow for outings, yet even in the city center, you can find a few trees and a patch of sky. Even if you're surrounded by buildings, find a small green corner in a playground or park near your home. Sit there for a few minutes and observe. Nature, in all its shades and colors, soothes the soul. Studies have found that even a few minutes in nature daily can significantly improve mental and physical health. It's worth trying.

Bring Some Nature Indoors

Make it a good habit to open all the windows at home every morning to let in air and light, yes, even in winter and on rainy days. Additionally, choose a free afternoon and go to the nearest nursery to purchase some houseplants. Worried the plants won't last long at your place? Buy a simple and cheap bouquet of flowers and place it in the center of the table. Research has shown that bringing flowers into the home can reduce stress and anxiety and even improve daily functioning. It's worth a try.

Reduce News, Add Experiences

Reducing news might seem like an impossible task, but if you knew how harmful obsessive news consumption is to your health – you might stop reading every update that comes out. In tense times, especially during wars, most of us tend to "cling" to the news and updates more than usual. This mainly contributes to raising cortisol levels in our bodies, developing anxiety, and a continuous feeling of disconnection. People who significantly reduced their daily news consumption reported a decrease in stress levels and an improvement in their general outlook on reality (what is called – proportions. The world seems less threatening and frightening when not consumed through news commentators and headline creators).

And what will you do with all the free time you have after you stop obsessively consuming news?

Simple. Do something you love. Add more pleasant experiences to your daily life. Love painting? This is the perfect time to buy some brushes, markers, and paints. Love reading? Use the time you freed up after you stopped refreshing your phone and get a subscription to the local library.

Talk to Someone, Yes, Even a Professional

Since the general situation is not your sole burden, and it turns out that half the country shares your stress – the health funds offer free mental health treatment by phone to anyone who needs it. Even if you've never thought about talking to a psychologist, a single conversation with a professional may be exactly what you need to bring some calm into your inner system.

Incorporate Prayer and Faith into Your Daily Routine

First, try somehow to establish a routine. It's true, it's a bit hard to create a sequence of fixed actions when the Home Front Command's guidelines change every day, but it's worth trying. Small habit anchors will help you create sanity amidst all the chaos. A good habit that can help you both mentally and spiritually is, of course, reciting Psalms. The Book of Psalms is divided into the days of the week and the month and can serve as an island of stability for you in a stormy sea of emotions and thoughts. The sacred words of David, peace be upon him, contain a wondrous intrinsic ability of healing through faith and trust. Sound enchanting? Try and see for yourself. Prayer and faith are the best remedy for tension. In addition to the daily reading of Psalms, it is also worth memorizing powerful verses like: "He who trusts in Hashem, kindness will surround him." Reciting the verses calms the heart and settles the mind, as it strengthens our belief that everything is for the best, everything is from Hashem, and eventually – we will all get through this period and come out stronger. Amen.