Beat stress and anxiety like the Japanese: Five refreshing tips

Though the fast-paced modern world comes with plush cushions to make life easy, its downside is stress and anxiety that are tearing many lives apart. And people tread different paths to overcome these negative feelings and calm their minds. The Japanese follow specific, unique, and practical techniques to ward off mental pressure and regain mental health. Let’s take a peek into five Japanese ways to detox the mind. 

1. Shinrin-yoku 
Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is a soothing routine to keep mental stress at bay. It involves spending a lot of time in a verdant space teeming with tranquillity. Besides surrendering yourself to nature, this refreshing technique rejuvenates body and mind. Breathing gulps of fresh air, listening to birds chirping and walking through the idyllic green forest can soothe your nerves. Forest bathing reduces cortisol, a stress hormone, attaining exceptional clarity of mind. The invigorating practice will help you to be far away from the madding crowd and beat mental fatigue. 

2. Zazen 
Zazen is a Buddhist meditation technique whereby meditation is done in a sitting position by giving unbridled concentration to breathing. It is ideal to attain clarity of thought and inner peace of mind. The potent but straightforward meditation helps to remove mental clutter and achieve emotional stability. 

3. Kaizen
Kaizen is a belief that means ‘improvement’ or ‘change for the better’. It involves a gamut of small and positive thoughts that could usher in a sea of change. The powerful technique encourages taking small, decisive steps without any fear. It also increases self-confidence and keeps mental stress and anxiety at bay. Kaizen can help to make small but effective changes in routine life, such as waking up on time, having healthy food and changing certain habits. And the small changes will make a big difference in your life. 

4. Kintsugi 
Kintsugi is an interesting Japanese art form that mending broken earthen pots with lacquer and has precious metals like gold as an ingredient. Kintsugi doesn’t conceal the cracks but beautifully projects the imperfections. Kintsugi teaches you to accept the reversals and struggles in life and change your mindset. You should view your faults, shortcomings and failures through a new prism and that would make you mentally strong and robust. 

5. Shukan 
Shukan is another Japanese technique that removes the entire muddle from body and mind. It not only helps to keep the immediate surroundings spick and span but also removes mental clutter. ‘Carry those that make you happy’ is Shukan's credo. Your mind will become calm by removing unwanted thoughts. Concentration is bound to increase with Shukan.