100 Steps to Relaxation

Sometimes unemployment can be pretty nerve-racking. We can run ourselves silly stressing over everything it is we should be doing so much so that we create more problems than if we would have just stopped to take a short break. Over the years however I have picked up some simple relaxation techniques that can quickly calm me down, center my consciousness and clear the clutter momentarily from my mental space.

It doesn’t take long but even 10 minutes in a state of heavy relaxation cam make all the difference. I’m going to describe a visualization process I use to free myself from the bombardment of my brain. It starts with closing your eyes but read through the process before you do. If it helps, record it in a soft soothing voice with a slow rhythm and play it back when you need to relax. Ready?

Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Clear your mind, thinking only about your breathing, the feeling of the air filling and exiting your lungs. Let the other ideas that invade your thoughts escape with each exhale. Once you have blown your worries away visualize yourself at the top of a long staircase. It can be inside, outside both or neither, there is no right or wrong answer as long as you are comfortable and not intimidated then it works for the exercise.

Now start your decent of 100 steps, counting backwards towards zero in your mind as you imagine each step underfoot. At the bottom of the stairs is a warm and inviting light which you are drawn closer too. Try to picture as many details as precisely as you possibly can. Don’t deliberate on audible or visual details alone but try to envision an all encompassing environment. Is the air wet or dry? How does it smell? What are the stairs made of and how does it feel underfoot?

Any time outside thoughts try to push their way in, force them back out with a deep breath, the continuous count and focusing on the details of descending the stairs. With each number you tick off the countdown and each step you take down the stairs you get closer to the growing glowing light beckoning at the bottom.

When you reach the final 10 steps the light slowly engulfs you until you are swallowed entirely as you step off the last stair. In your imagination focus the light on the top of your head. Don’t only picture how it looks but imagine how it feels, like the warmth of the sun shining through the window on that spot alone. Now shift the light source. Move the spot where the light hits your skin down your neck, torso and into your arms before envisioning it traveling into your legs and out of your toes.

The warmth and peace fills you entirely so take a minute to bask in it before imaging yourself turning around and spotting a door. Take the handle and walk through the exit. Welcome back to reality, hope this helps you relax. It works for me, if I’m short on time I only do 50 stairs. Try it and comment below with questions or results.

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By Heather Fairchild - Heather is a writer and blogger for Beyond.com. She researches and writes about job search tactics, training, and topics.