Today’s busy world makes it only too easy to get overwhelmed by the constant demands of daily life. Work, social obligations, bank payments, surprise phone calls that turn out to be telemarketers… life has a way of swallowing up our free time until we are run off our feet. It can be hard to counter this, but taking the time to unwind is crucial for maintaining your mental well-being.

Fortunately, there are some simple ways that you can fight back. Here are four ways we use to relax and reset when the pressure starts to mount.

Take a Break, Take a Step Back

Getting overwhelmed? Feel like you’ve been hacking away at something without any signs of progress for hours? Well, it’s highly counterintuitive but sometimes, the best way to progress with a task is to stop and come back later. Whether you’ve realized you’re not getting anywhere or simply that you need a mental break, distancing yourself from the task at hand gives you the chance to reset.

A short walk outside, stretching, or just sitting in a different room for a bit – all these can provide much-needed relief. It’s a superb way to clear your head and prevent burnout, helping you come back refreshed and more focused. Still, it can be hard to be disciplined by this, especially when it feels like the pressure is really on.

Find yourself itching to get back to the task and need a way to counter this? Something to really focus your brain on that’s a totally different vibe? There are a few approaches you can try, but one thing we’d recommend is playing a game… the kind that doesn’t frustrate you with hard challenges or ask you to memorize several books’ worth of lore, that is.

Fortunately, you have plenty of options here as long as you have a phone with you. Many online casinos offer a wide range of table games and a lot of these can be played with a very low learning curve. Playing roulette may be a particularly good choice here because you don’t even need to make many decisions, and it doesn’t take long to slot in a few quick rounds. Pick a number based on what feels right to you at the time and watch the wheel spin. It doesn’t matter if you guessed correctly or not; the point of playing roulette for leisure is to take a break from anything in your life that is causing you stress and instead focus on the simple joy of watching the ball bounce around the table.

If roulette isn’t your style but you still want to try something in this area, you can check out Editor’s Picks: 5 Must-Try Online Table Games for an exciting selection of alternative games. These options are also great if you just want something to occupy your mind for a few minutes before you return to your tasks in a better state to handle them.

You might feel a little unsure about stopping to play roulette when you’re meant to be focusing on a task, but honestly, our brains work better when we give them breaks and switch tasks occasionally. Roulette is ideal because it’s likely to be very different from what you were doing before – meaning it’s an effective break – and it doesn’t demand much thought or commitment, making it easier to switch back to your other task when the time comes.

Reframe the Situation to Unwind

Reframing is a powerful technique that can revolutionize the way you approach stressful situations and change your entire outlook. By shifting your mindset, you can turn what may seem like an overwhelming situation into something far more manageable. Don’t look at the problems you face as things to dread. Instead, try viewing them as the chance to learn something new.

Easier said than done? Certainly, but if you can pull it off then this change in perspective reduces tension and lets you approach challenges with a clearer, calmer mind. Try writing down ways to reframe stressful situations: the act of putting pen to paper can help reinforce your ideas and make them more compelling.

Focus on Your Breathing

Another great way to unwind is through controlled breathing. Deep breathing techniques are great for taking control of your adrenaline levels and telling your body that you, not it, get the final say over how stressed you feel about a situation.

This practice works wonders whether you’re in the middle of a busy day or winding down after a hectic week. By taking slow, deep breaths, you can quickly bring yourself back to a state of calm and peace. It’s a perfect go-to when you need a quick reset and will help you feel fresh and ready to face whatever comes next.

Be Present: Stay Grounded with Mindfulness

You may have heard of mindfulness but felt kind of fuzzy about what it actually entails. At its most basic, mindfulness is about being aware of your environment and how things feel right now. This reduces stress because it prevents you from focusing on the future and “might-be”s. You have to deal with the here-and-happening instead.

A handful of minutes each day isn’t asking much to add this to your routine, and you can even let it overlap with things like eating lunch. One of the most common ways to start practicing this, second only to paying attention to your breathing, is to focus on the taste of your food. Don’t think about anything else while eating, just immerse yourself in paying full attention to how your food actually tastes. Mindfulness also promotes relaxation by helping you let go of worries and anxieties – allowing you to fully unwind.

The Power of Unwinding

When life feels like it’s winning a battle against you, it can seem like taking a break is the last thing you have time for and that doing so will only result in you ending up falling further behind. However, if used correctly, short breaks to rebalance yourself – whether that’s done by taking a walk, playing a quick round of online roulette, or focusing on your breathing – can help you regain your focus and return to your tasks in a much better state to complete them. If you’re looking for ways to refocus, here are some of our top methods: