Five ways to switch off and relax

Berdasarkan UNFOLD Magazine

Oktober 1, 2022

From virtual gallery-going to art therapy, here’s how to relax and unwind.

The negative impact of smartphones, as well as the expectation to be constantly available, has been well documented, limiting our attentions spans and our ability to be present. Now, more than ever, it’s important to tune out the world and reset every so often, taking stock of what’s worked in our daily routines and making tweaks where unhealthy habits might have formed.

Here, we share five ways to soothe your mind, boost wellbeing and find a fresh perspective.

Get arty

Gone are the days when colouring was just for kids. It’s a calming, therapeutic way to tap into your creative side. From wildlife-filled jungles and angular cityscapes to line drawings of Ryan Gosling, there’s a grown-up colouring book out there for everyone.For something more abstract and meditative, download mindful patterns online (at The Wellness Society, perhaps) or enter the fantastical world of fashion with Vogue Colours A to Z: A Fashion Colouring Book.

Listen up

In need of some escapism? Tune into a storytelling session. Naturally, the best tales come with a twist – such as The Wish, written by British Vogue’s former editor-in-chief, Alexandra Shulman during a sojourn at the Mandarin Oriental, Paris. Next, check out The Writer’s Voice, where the New Yorker’s starriest contributors read their own short fiction (think Salman Rushdie, Zadie Smith and co). Finally, you’ll find some familiar voices at NPR’s acclaimed Selected Shorts, with A-listers including David Schwimmer moonlighting as narrators.

Visit a museum in your pyjamas

Take a whistlestop virtual tour of some of the world’s greatest museums, starting at the magnificent, domed Louvre Abu Dhabi. Its Art from Home strand investigates a series of standout pieces, from paintings by Manet and Mondrian to a kohl-eyed mummy. Meanwhile in London, the British Museum welcomes virtual visitors, with podcasts, 3D models, online exhibitions and none of the usual crowds.

Create a (tiny) garden

Edible plants can thrive in the smallest of spaces. Basil is easily grown from seed on a sunny windowsill, while smaller crops (tomatoes or strawberries, say) will thrive on a sheltered balcony. No access to seeds? No problem. Coriander, cumin, mustard and fennel seeds, rescued from your spice rack, can be lightly covered in damp soil then left to sprout in the sun. For inspiration on a grander scale, explore the National Garden Scheme’s escapist Virtual Visits, where you’ll find more than 190 gardens to visit virtually, from the small and suburban to historic patches once frequented by the likes of Jane Austen and Anne Boleyn.

Get cultural

If you’re craving a cultural hit, catch a must-see production from your sofa. For starters, check out what’s streaming at Shakespeare’s Globe with no need to brave its usual standing-room spots. The National Theatre, meanwhile, offers its subscribers screenings of its greatest coups, such as Benedict Cumberbatch’s scene-stealing turn in Frankenstein. More in the mood for opera? New York Metropolitan Opera has free live audio streams of upcoming performances.

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