When planning Valentine’s Day, most people have trouble thinking beyond the basic fancy dinner date. But did you know Valentine’s Day can celebrate everyone you love? That’s right, this day is not just for couples! However, Valentine’s Day 2025 may look a little different with the long weekend ahead. Whether you’re looking to avoid large crowds, are spending the day far from your loved ones, or just want to try something different, we’ve got you covered. Here are our tips and tricks to successfully plan the best Valentine’s Day dates and celebrations in 2025.

Virtual Valentine’s Day planning ideas

Going digital for dating is nothing new, especially since 2020. There are plenty of reasons to go virtual for Valentine’s Day. Online options are great for long-distance relationships and celebrating with friends and family that live far away. Plus, with winter weather and flu circulating, digital date nights offer a safe way to share the love. Check out our virtual Valentine’s Day ideas and planning tips!

• For the LDR: Don’t let long distances get you down. Yes, you can still have a romantic night together. Try this spin on dinner and a movie! First, order food delivery from your favorite restaurants. Then, you can set up a video call and eat together. Make sure you both treat it as a true date night: dress up a little and set the table nicely. After dinner, you can both stream a movie together! Many popular streaming services like Netflix offer a shared streaming experience so nobody misses a moment.
• Celebrate with friends: Get together with your favorite couples and host a virtual couple’s game night. Online sites make it easy to host and play a variety of different games no matter where you and your friends are located. And you can all feel the love without even leaving your respective living rooms.
• With the girls: Book a Galentine’s day event with Soothe to relax at the start of the event. Send all your Galentines a virtual wine tasting kit. Sample different varietals with the help of a virtual wine expert. Then, score extra points with a DIY snack and charcuterie board contest.
• For the family: Now you don’t even need to travel to experience some of the most amazing places on earth! Many popular museums around the world, national parks, and even Disney World offer virtual tours and videos suitable for a fun Valentine’s Day activity for all ages.
• Do good in the name of love: Want something a little different? Many non-profit organizations have ways to volunteer and give back virtually! Take time this Valentine’s Day to do some good, and get a little gratitude boost, too.

At-home Valentine’s Day planning guide

If you’re in charge of planning Valentine’s Day, don’t stress! We have all the tips and date night ideas for couples to make planning easier than ever. Many couples are choosing to keep Valentine’s Day 2025 low-key this year. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be romantic! Try one of these at-home Valentine’s Day ideas for couples.

Cook up something delicious, together

Skip the crowded restaurants and long wait times this year. Instead, book an online cooking class or baking workshop! This activity is a fun way to spend time together, learn something new, and makes for a more memorable Valentine’s Day dinner. Not into cooking? Order in and try a cocktail mixology class or wine tasting instead!

Planning tips

• Make sure you shop for all your ingredients ahead of time, and have the necessary equipment.
• Also, play to your strengths! If you’re an avid cook, you can go for something a little more ambitious. But if you’re a beginner in the kitchen, we don’t recommend attempting a souffle or bringing out the blowtorch!
• Ambiance is everything. Break out the tablecloth and the fancy cutlery. Set the mood with candles and music that matches the cuisine you’re cooking up.

Plan an epic game night

Get your competitive side ready! It’s time to plan a Valentine’s Day game night. An alternative to classic date night ideas, game nights are easy to plan and surprisingly fun! Got kids at home? They can easily join in the fun, too. Plus, you don’t even need electricity to make this date night epic. Dig out your old board games, borrow from friends, or buy a new game to try.

Planning tips

• Have at least 3 different games to play. To choose the best games, they should be easy to learn (if you don’t already know how to play), and work with two players. Games that take a long time, like Monopoly, may not be the best option if you’re looking to get to all of your games in one night.
• Keep score! Make it a friendly competition to see who can win the most rounds. Go the extra mile and make funny or romantic prizes for the winner of each round.
• Don’t forget the snacks! No game night is complete without your favorite nostalgic snacks close at hand.

Bring the spa to you

Nothing says romance like a day spent in the pure bliss of a spa! But expensive treatments, dealing with traffic, and one of the busiest spa days of the year can easily fizzle any romance. This Valentine’s Day, why not bring the spa to you! With on-demand couples massages and facial treatments, Soothe helps you create an amazing spa-quality experience for you and your S.O. without even leaving the house.

Planning tips

• Schedule in advance. Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest times for Soothe, so booking early helps ensure you get matched with an available massage therapist or provider. We recommend booking at least a week in advance!
• Create a relaxing space in your home. Before the date, clear any clutter, and make your home feel clean and fresh. This will help you maintain ultimate relaxation.
• Remove distractions during your treatments. For the best results and most romance, put away the phones and laptops, and focus on each other!
• Go the extra mile with fluffy robes, aromatherapy candles, and infused water or tea. Soothe Providers bring everything needed to create an amazing experience during your treatment, but don’t forget about the before and after!

Common Valentine’s Day planning mistakes to avoid

A lot can go wrong when planning Valentine’s Day. And the last thing you want is to have all your romantic gestures fall flat! To help make Valentine’s Day planning go smoother, follow our advice above, and don’t make these common Valentine’s Day mistakes. By avoiding these pitfalls, you’re sure to have an epic date night!

• Waiting until the last minute. February 14 is a popular day for many people to go out to restaurants and do fun activities. But that means that reservations fill up fast! Avoid this common mistake by planning ahead, and making any reservations well in advance.
• Planning without considering your date. You should always plan Valentine’s Day with the other person in mind. If your date doesn’t drink, maybe a bar isn’t the best spot to meet up. Similarly, if you know your S.O. isn’t into rom-coms, a different movie genre is a must. Not sure what they like? Now’s a good time to ask – before you plan a date they’ll hate.
• Going over budget. It’s easy to drop big money on Valentine’s Day gifts. But sometimes, quality over quantity actually makes for a more meaningful date! You don’t need to spend a ton to have an amazing day with your loved ones.
• Trying to cram too much into one day. The last thing you want is to be stressed about making your next reservation! Over-planning is a classic Valentine’s Day mistake to avoid. At best, we recommend having 2-3 things planned for the day. You can always have a backup just in case something goes amiss, but the goal is to relax – not stress! With the long weekend in 2025, you can plan on
• Showing up empty-handed. You don’t need to make a big show of gifting, but you also can’t show up with nothing for your S.O.! The go-to gifts are usually flowers and chocolate. But if you want to really surprise them, give them a gift card for a professional massage this Valentine’s Day! Soothe makes gifting easy and fast with email delivery, and they’re sure to remember it as one of the best gifts they’ve ever received on Valentine’s Day.

The post Valentine’s Day Planning Guide 2025 appeared first on Soothe.

The post Embrace Stillness with These Breathing Techniques appeared first on Soothe.

Although our bodies are really great at informing us when we’re dealing with periods of extreme stress, it can actually be incredibly easy to ignore day-to-day stress or even periods of moderately heightened stress. When we live busy or stressful lives, we can often find ourselves downplaying or ignoring the symptoms that pop up, because we think it isn’t that big of a deal.

What is Stress?

Stress is the body’s automatic response to changes in a situation. When we find ourselves in a new place or facing new circumstances, our brain tells our autonomic nervous system how to regulate the body to keep us alert. Our heart rate speeds up, our vision becomes more aware, and our body enters fight or flight mode until we can become more comfortable and feel more secure in our environment.

Typically, this short-term response is great! It can help keep us safe when we find ourselves in tricky or dangerous situations. But when the short term becomes long term and temporary stress becomes chronic, we start to run into major problems.

Symptoms

During periods of extreme stress, it can be incredibly easy to identify what’s happening in our bodies because it feels so vastly different from how we normally feel. When we experience lower levels of stress over long periods of time, it can be much harder to identify physical and mental symptoms.

Physical symptoms of stress can include:

• Aches and pains like muscular tension, joint pains, inflammation
• Chest pains or feeling like your heart is racing
• Exhaustion and difficulty sleeping
• Clenching your jaw or neck
• Indigestion or other signs of an upset stomach
• Getting sick more frequently as a result of a weakened immune system

Mental and emotional symptoms can include:

• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Depression
• Feelings of sadness or hopelessness
• Executive dysfunction

These less subtle symptoms can creep up on us over time if we’re not careful and can damage our long-term health goals. It can even result in attempting to manage it with unhealthy coping mechanisms like drugs and alcohol.

Diagnosis

There’s no singular diagnosis for stress. Only you can evaluate how you feel and decide when it’s time to get some help, which is often easier said than done. Chatting with your doctor or other healthcare providers can be a great first step toward healing and reducing stress.

How to Cope

Ready to make a change and live a healthier stress-free life? The good news is that it’s easier than you probably even realize and it doesn’t require too many difficult lifestyle changes!

Mindfulness

Learning how to stay present in the current moment is one of our biggest mental defenses against stress. This can seem like a tricky habit to develop, but practices for putting it into place are actually pretty small and simple. Writing down a few things that you feel grateful for, reflecting on the best parts of your day, or listing out the names of people who love you are just three small mindfulness practices that can have a huge impact in helping you refocus and destress.

Exercise

Moving our bodies is a wonderful way to reduce stress and recenter. You don’t need to be an Olympic track star to see results, either. A quick walk around the block or doing a few simple stretches at home can be a great way to get your blood moving and release your pent-up stress.

Set Attainable Goals

Visualizing exactly what you’ve got on your plate can be a wonderful tool for mitigating stress. When we see our goals broken down into realistic, bite-sized chunks, it becomes much easier to focus on managing one thing at a time, instead of becoming overwhelmed by the long list of to-dos.

Meditation

Quieting your mind for less than five minutes a day has been proven to lower blood pressure and reduce stress. If you’re interested in learning how to meditate, there are many phone apps, youtube videos, and even podcasts that can help you learn to re-center and breathe, for free!

Dedicated Self-Care Time

Self-care can take many forms. It’s an individualized habit that we learn to build over time by figuring out what feels good to us. Some people like to read a book or take a hot bath while others might go out to a coffee shop or take in a movie. But, if you’ve been living with stress for a while, it can be tough to know where to start. We’ve gathered up a few go-to suggestions to help get the ball rolling.

• Curate a quiet space: Dim the lights, turn on some soothing music, and light a scented candle.
• Make a healthy snack: Set aside time to sip a light, refreshing beverage while munching on your favorite sliced fruit or veggie
• Bring the spa to you: Getting a massage or scheduling salon services are perfect for reducing stress while caring for your body. With Soothe, we can bring those services right to your door with no extra stress.

Spa, at Home

If you’re interested in bringing a spa-quality massage or salon experience but unsure which service is right for you, we’ve put together a list of our favorite stress-busting options offered here at Soothe.

• Swedish massage: This massage technique combines soft, long, kneading strokes and shorter tapping strokes to help reduce muscle pressure and ease tension in the body. 60 minutes, once a week can have huge long-term benefits to your overall stress levels.
• Deep Tissue massage: Working the body at a slightly higher intensity, deep tissue massage pinpoints precise areas of muscle tension in order to relieve pain
• Anti-stress facial: Reduces inflammation and helps repair skin from the damage done by environmental stressors, all while helping you relax and rejuvenate
• Hydrating facial: Uncomfortable, dry skin can lead to breakouts or stiffness in the face, making it difficult to settle down and feel your best. A hydrating facial is perfect for replenishing your skin’s moisture and reducing discomfort
• Haircut at home: Instead of trying to cram a visit to the stylist into your busy schedule, bring the stylist to you! They’ll help keep you looking and feeling fresh without adding any new stress to your plate.
• CBD add-on: CBD works to penetrate the skin’s surface and naturally reduce muscular inflammation and tension, making it easier to get the most out of any massage service you book.

Download the Soothe app or check out the Soothe website for more booking options. Plus, when you book, your provider can meet you wherever is most convenient: home, work, or even a hotel if you’re a regular road warrior! They’ll bring everything they need to provide you with a spa-quality service, so you can relax and focus on feeling less stressed.

The post Relax. It’s Stress Awareness Month. appeared first on Soothe.

Soothe is proud to have landed on the 2022 edition of The Marketplace 100 list published by Future from a16z.  The list ranks the largest consumer-facing marketplace startups, highlighting the next generation of marketplace giants.

Keep reading >>

The post Soothe Designated as a Top Marketplace Company appeared first on Soothe.

What is “sleep hygiene”?

Simply put, sleep hygiene refers to the habits that help you get a little more rest each night. When we create a comfortable environment and build a routine designed to calm our body and brain, we’re able to fall asleep faster, allowing us to achieve more Slow-Wave Sleep and REM Sleep. Slow-Wave Sleep (or Deep Sleep) is thought to help restore and recuperate the body, while REM Sleep is essential for key brain functions like learning and memory. The more time your body and brain can spend immersed in these states, the more productively they’ll be able to function during the day. Basically: If you want to do your best, you need to get some rest!

How’d you sleep?

If it’s been a long time since you’ve had a solid sleep routine, it can be tough to know what good, regular sleep looks and feels like. Here are some things to consider:

Six to Eight: Healthy adults need somewhere between six to eight hours of sleep, every night. The exact number is a little different for everyone, but if you’re regularly sleeping less than six or waking up feeling groggy and unrested, it’s a sign that something needs to change.

Sleep, Uninterrupted: How often are you waking up each night? And if you wake up, are you able to easily fall back asleep? Waking several times a night and being unable to fall back asleep quickly means you’re not getting the full cycle of slow-wave and REM sleep that your body needs to rest.

Rested and Ready: When you wake up, you should feel ready to take on the day, not ready to crawl back into bed and hit the snooze. Check in with yourself regularly when you get up to see how you’re doing. It’s a great way to tell if you’re getting enough z’s!

Hygiene How-Tos:

There’s no better feeling than waking up refreshed and ready to go, no coffee needed. But figuring out how to achieve that feeling sleep-after-sleep? That can really keep you up at night.

Everyone’s sleep hygiene habits will look a little different, based on your specific needs. However, there are two key categories that experts say we can all spend a little extra time thinking about: environment and habit.

A good sleep environment is one that is comfortable, clean, quiet, and dark. Making sure you’ve got a great mattress, clean sheets, and a quiet, dark space can go a long way towards getting a good night’s sleep.

Once your pillows are fluffed and your noise machine is playing some soothing sounds, it’s time to take a look at your habits. Adjusting habits can be tough, so it’s great to start with changes that can happen on autopilot.

Put down the phone

Getting a notification from a friend can give us a quick and delightful boost of serotonin throughout the day. Unfortunately, constant notifications can also amp up the sympathetic nervous system and make it harder to get to sleep! Most phones have a setting that will automatically silence your notifications after a certain time of day, making it easier to get some distance so you can get some rest.

Lighten up

Light can have a major impact on our ability to regulate sleep habits. The three biggest offenders? Too little sunlight during the day. Too much bright light at night. Too much blue light all of the time.

Sunlight: Sunlight is a key driver of circadian rhythms. Opening the blinds, running outside instead of on the treadmill, or even just spending your lunch break in a nearby park can make it much, much easier to get that rhythm back on track.

Dim the lights: Once the sun starts to go down, it’s time to dim the lights so your body can wind down too. Setting up light timers or using programmable “smart lights” are easy ways to make this process automatic.

Bye, bye blues: Blue light is a particularly cold shade of light emitted by anything with a screen that may decrease melatonin production. If melatonin production is disrupted, our sleep can suffer too! Most screens have a setting that will automatically reduce blue light after dark or can permanently reduce blue light all of the time.

Schedule Some “Me” Time

A regularly scheduled massage can help you carve out precious self-care time while also working on your sleep hygiene. Setting aside an hour or so 2 to 3 times per month to get a massage can help treat stress-related insomnia. By releasing tension from our muscles, our body and brain have an easier time dropping into a deeper, more restful sleep. Plus, the benefits of improved sleep and massage can help complement each other. They both improve circulation, increase energy, and give your immune system a boost.

If you’re interested in making regular massage part of your new and improved sleep hygiene routine, Soothe can help. Our on-demand massages bring a spa-quality experience to you, making it easier than ever to incorporate it into your weekly routine. Plus, we’ve got lots of options designed to cater to your sleep goals and physical needs.

60 minutes: A 60-minute session is perfect for massage table regulars looking for self-care maintenance. This length of time allows your therapist to do a sweep of the whole body to remove day-to-day tension that might crop up between sessions.

90 minutes: The perfect monthly complement to target trouble spots. If you are someone who already sets aside time for a monthly massage, adding a 90-minute session to your routine is perfect for working on regular aches and pains that can crop up over the course of the month from things like repetitive use or poor posture.

120 minutes: If you have regular pain and stiffness or you experience frequent periods of high stress, try starting with two to three 120 minute sessions until you’re able to bring your body back down to a baseline. Once you’re back at your baseline, longer 120-minute sessions can become part of a long-term maintenance routine.

CBD add-on: CBD is a safe and effective way to add extra pain relief to any massage, no matter the length. CBD is known to have anti-inflammatory, anti-spasm properties, making recovery from strain even easier. Plus, it has a light sedative effect, perfect for helping you drift off to dreamland.

Stick To It

Once you’ve figured out what works for you, the single most important thing you can do is keep it up! Routine is one of the most important parts of good sleep hygiene. When you have a routine you stick to, it sends signals to your brain that help it release the chemicals you need to get deep, restful sleep. With an improved sleep routine, you’ll wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day!

Metadata 
National Sleep Awareness Month – Soothe
Rest, Relaxation, and REM Cycles: How to get your best night’s sleep and keep it that way.

The post National Sleep Awareness Month appeared first on Soothe.

What Happens During a Massage? 

If you’ve never gotten a professional massage before, it can be intimidating. During a session, the massage therapist uses different techniques to apply pressure and manipulate the tissues around specific areas of the body. These techniques, usually circles, long strokes, and percussive movements can help relax the muscles and work out tension throughout the body. The pressure ranges from light to deep into muscles and tissues depending on the style of massage. 

Benefits of Regular Massage

Massage is more than just a way to feel good. In fact, massage therapy is a recognized form of integrative medicine, especially for treating chronic pain. Some of the most commonly experienced benefits of massage therapy include: 

• Reduced stress
• Reduced pain and chronic pain
• Relief from muscle soreness
• Relieved tension 
• Improved mood

Beyond relaxation, studies have shown that even just one massage session can improve circulation, boost energy and alertness, and help people sleep. Many of these common massage benefits result from lower heart rate and blood pressure during the treatment. It’s important to note that many people feel sore for a day or two following massage therapy. This is totally normal, and the benefits listed above can last up to a full week after each massage appointment. 

How Often Should You Get A Massage? 

One massage every year may feel good, but it’s likely not enough to produce lasting effects. Especially for those that suffer from chronic conditions, or physically active people, regular massage therapy treatment can be a great addition to wellness routines. According to recent research on the effectiveness of massage therapy, regular massage has proven effective for patients undergoing treatment for cancer, skin conditions, prenatal depression, osteoporosis, and chronic pain conditions. People new to massage therapy should start slow, and work their way up to more frequent appointments. 

Getting massages weekly or twice a month can be a great way to assist in minimizing the symptoms of conditions such as:

• Chronic low back pain 
• Neck and shoulder pain 
• Recurring headaches
• Sports injuries 
• PMS
• Fibromyalgia
• Breast cancer and lymphoma
• Stress-induced insomnia 
• Digestive conditions
• Nerve pain 
• Autoimmune disorders

While not a replacement for traditional medicine or medical care, massage therapy can be a helpful addition to a care treatment plan. A doctor should always be consulted before starting massage therapy to treat any medical condition.

Massage for Mental Wellbeing

Massage therapy has also proven an effective method for improving mental health. Studies comparing levels of cortisol, also known as the stress hormone, have found a correlation between massage and lower cortisol levels. Getting a massage relaxes the body and mind, which allows many people to practice mindfulness and gratitude. In addition, the element of human touch during a massage session fosters feelings of connection, which can aid in building meaningful relationships. As a form of self-care, regular massage treatments can help with: 

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Chronic and acute stress
• Boosting confidence 
• Improved focus 
• Better sleep 
• Increased energy 

Where to Get Regular Massage Therapy 

For the best results in regular massage treatment, always work with the same therapist or practitioner. This helps the therapist measure progress, and make adjustments to treatment based on specific needs or changes over time. 

It’s important to always book massage therapy appointments with a certified and licensed professional. There is a small risk of injury with massage, so proper training is essential to preventing unwanted pain. Professional massage therapy is usually available at spas, chiropractic facilities, through alternative medical offices, and at home with mobile massage therapy. Companies like Soothe make massage therapy more accessible by pairing clients with licensed therapists; and having the therapist come directly to the client for their treatment. 

The post The Amazing Benefits of Regular Massage appeared first on Soothe.

The Gratitude of Giving

Everyone likes to receive a gift. But did you know gift-giving actually has benefits for you, too? Multiple studies have revealed that altruistic behavior can reduce stress, increase happiness, and even extend longevity! When you give someone a gift or spend time helping others, your brain may be releasing endorphins, resulting in that warm, fuzzy feeling. Gratitude is incredibly important to your overall well-being. Expressing gratitude in the form of gifts, volunteering, or donations, can have a positive effect on your mood and mental health, which impacts your overall wellness. Studies have also found that volunteering and giving gifts improved wellness for those suffering from chronic conditions, and even reduces death risk! Plus, researchers say that giving fosters stronger connections and social bonds.

Wellness: The Gift that Gives Twice

The best way to get a gratitude boost from your holiday gift-giving? Give wellness. A wellness gift shows your recipient that you care about them in a meaningful way. For example, giving a massage gift from Soothe lets them enjoy a relaxing at-home experience, perfect for de-stressing in the busy holiday season. (And who doesn’t need that right about now?) Compared to something material, sharing a wellness gift not only makes them feel good in the moment, it encourages better wellness habits, too. Plus, when you give a thoughtful wellness gift, you also get a positivity boost!

Perfect for Procrastinators

Couldn’t decide what to get them? Missed the shipping deadlines? Forgot somebody on your list? The holidays are stressful enough without all that! Wellness gifts are a great way to say “thank you” in a meaningful way, without the extra stress. Massage gift cards let them customize their own experience, so you don’t have to worry about what type of massage they prefer. When you give wellness with Soothe, your recipient can even choose the day, time, and service type to make it a totally personalized gift – without any extra effort on your part.

Don’t forget a gift for the most important person on your list – YOU! The added stress of the holidays makes it easy to forget about your own self-care. While you’re focused on giving to everyone else, it’s important to check in with yourself. A wellness gift for you is just as important! If you don’t have time now, simply get yourself a wellness gift card to use later when it works for your schedule. It’s a total win-win.

How to Give Wellness Gifts with Soothe

At Soothe, our mission is to make wellness more accessible for everyone. And that includes during the holidays! Our e-cards make giving wellness gifts simpler, and faster. Soothe e-cards are a stress-free way to get even the pickiest person a gift they will love (and actually need). Spend less time shopping and more time with the ones you love this season. Giving a Soothe gift card only takes a minute, and it couldn’t be easier:

1. Choose your recipient’s location, and how many service minutes to send
2. Personalize your gift with a message and festive design
3. Send instantly, or schedule for a special occasion – that’s it!

The post Give the Best: Wellness Gifts for Everyone appeared first on Soothe.

At Soothe, we’re on a mission to bring wellness to the world. Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to hit pause on our usual content and provide some useful resources, facts, and inspiration for anyone looking to get involved. 

By the numbers

• According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1 in 8 women in the US will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.
• The survival rate for breast cancer is 99% when diagnosed in the localized state (approximately 64% of cases). This means the cancer has not yet spread outside the breast.
• There are more than 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the US
• According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide.
• Both women and men can develop breast cancer.

While there is no way to prevent breast cancer, living a healthy lifestyle keeps your immune system in fighting condition. Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and regular exercise, and limiting alcohol consumption will promote overall wellness and help keep diseases like cancer at bay. You also shouldn’t smoke or use tobacco products. The World Health Organization says that tobacco use is “the single greatest avoidable risk factor for cancer mortality and kills more than 8 million people each year, from cancer and other diseases.” Stress can weaken your immune system. Therefore, mental health is equally important in maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

The post Breast Cancer Awareness Month: What You Need to Know appeared first on Soothe.

An entire day dedicated to relaxation? Yes, it’s true! While not a federal holiday, National Relaxation Day is a reminder to take time out of your busy day to relax. Some people in the US are staunch observers and celebrate this day every year. Others have never even heard of National Relaxation Day! Wherever you fall on this spectrum, this is your chance to give yourself a break. Now, let’s celebrate with a little extra R&R. 

When is National Relaxation Day? 

We celebrate National Relaxation Day annually on August 15 in the United States. However, you probably won’t see this holiday on any calendars. And you’re unlikely to get a day off work for it. For a little National Relaxation Day history, nine-year-old Sean Moeller is the one who created this holiday. In 1985, he pitched the idea for a national day of relaxation! This unofficial celebration of all things relaxation is a reminder to take a pause and just be. 

National Relaxation Day also falls in the middle of National Wellness Month! So, if you haven’t already started your wellness journey, August 15 is a great place to begin. 

Why is relaxation important? 

A relaxation day is long overdue in a world that rewards hard work and even glorifies putting work above your own wellbeing. Constantly feeling stressed from work, putting yourself second to others, and never having a moment’s rest is a surefire way to burn out – and fast. 

Stress is all around us. It’s almost impossible to avoid completely. But there are ways to reduce your stress! Relaxing activities can help you combat the emotional and physical signs of stress. Symptoms of stress can include disrupted sleep, irritability, depression, feeling panicked, and mood swings. If you’re seeing these signs of stress, schedule a relaxation day on your to-do list ASAP!

If you struggle with saying “no” to others or need to be constantly busy to feel productive, National Relaxation Day should be on your radar. Making a conscious effort to schedule relaxation is a great way to avoid burnout and prevent excess stress.

How to celebrate National Relaxation Day

We’re here to take the stress out of planning this relaxing holiday. These are tried-and-true ways to get more relaxation into your day on August 15. People find different types of activities relaxing. So, try a few from this list and see what works for you. 

Relaxation activities and ideas

1. Schedule 5-10 minutes of absolutely nothing. 

It sounds silly. But for those struggling to relax, the key is doing nothing, even for a moment. When we feel like we have to be working, moving, and doing constantly, we physically can’t relax! So scheduling time to do nothing at all is a great way to force yourself to relax, even just a little.

2. Practice yoga or meditation

These ancient relaxation techniques are still around for a reason. Tying breath to movement is a great way to bring attention to your mind and body. There are different types of yoga and meditation, so try a few before you decide it’s not for you.  

3. Get a massage

Nothing is quite as relaxing as getting a professional massage. But if traffic, parking, and crowded spas take away from your experience, try this: book an at-home massage for National Relaxation Day. Get personalized treatment from a licensed massage therapist, all in the comfort of your own home. They’ll massage away all the tension and stress that have built up. Regular massages are also a great way to combat a stressful lifestyle.   

4. Go outside 

It’s no secret that nature has healing properties! So try to spend time outside on your relaxation day. If being active helps you relax, try a hike, bike ride, or long walk. If passive relaxation is more your thing, head to the beach or park with a good book and some healthy snacks. What if you only have 5 minutes? No problem; find a shady bench and just relax in the great outdoors.

5. Unplug and unwind 

Take a break from technology. We’re so connected all the time, and that can actually increase your stress! Take a moment on National Relaxation Day to put down your phone, close the laptop, and turn off the TV. You can read a book, go for a walk, or just simply be present in the tech-free moment.

6. Take care of your skin, hair, and nails

A little self-care is the perfect way to celebrate this holiday. When we look good, we feel good! So schedule a relaxing facial with a professional esthetician. Get a blowout or freshen up your look with a haircut. Take a moment to go for a manicure. The key to making this a relaxing experience? Don’t think about work or your to-do list while you’re getting pampered! 

7. Get some extra ZZZs

Most adults don’t get enough sleep. So treat yourself to a few extra minutes of blissful rest for National Relaxation Day. Go to bed a little earlier, or set your alarm 30 minutes later. You’ll be surprised at the difference a few minutes can make!

8. Do what makes you happy

The most important factor when planning your National Relaxation Day activities is your happiness. Just because hiking makes some people feel relaxed, doesn’t mean you have to do it, too! We’re most relaxed when we’re comfortable and happy. So however you plan to celebrate, make sure it involves something you love. 

Relaxation days, any day

The relaxation doesn’t have to end once National Relaxation Day is over! Once you find a relaxation technique that feels right, keep it up. De-stressing regularly is key to your overall well-being. The best way to ensure you stay relaxed is to schedule your relaxation days in advance. In addition to scheduled breaks and regular exercise, try booking monthly massages for the ultimate relaxing activity. 

 Book your Relaxation Day with Soothe

The post 8 Things to Do on National Relaxation Day (And Why You Should) appeared first on Soothe.

You don’t need to travel far to have an amazing summer! Far-flung getaways aren’t always the best option for many reasons. Vacation costs, work, and school schedules, and the stress of flying are all valid reasons to stay close to home this summer. Especially with many people choosing not to travel during the pandemic, it may feel like vacations are out of the question. But just because you’re keeping it local doesn’t mean you have to give up the vacation mindset! Use this summer staycation planning guide to get some last-minute R&R before the season’s over! 

What you need to know before planning a staycation 

Even though you’re not going far, you should still take some time to plan ahead. First, you need to choose how long you want your “trip” to be. If your schedule allows, you can even take a few days and visit somewhere close by without having to buy plane tickets.  

Another thing to factor into your vacation planning is the weather. If it’s likely to be very hot near you, choose activities that are indoors during the hottest part of the day. Rain can also put a damper on your staycation plans! Have backup plans ready just in case. 

Before you venture out, always check your local and state safety guidelines. Know the masking and social distancing policies ahead of time. You can also call local businesses to confirm operating hours and safety policies. 

Choose your staycation vibe

Use the guide below to plan the perfect staycation! We’ve pulled together different activities and local vacation ideas to help you make the most of your days off. 

Relaxing: Spa day at home

Summer often comes with its own set of stressors. Even if a getaway isn’t in the cards, a relaxing staycation can be just what you need! Here are some activity ideas for planning your R&R close to home. 

Start with setting up your space. Clear out the clutter to start fresh. We also recommend removing your distracting electronics. Put your smartphone, laptop, iPad, and Apple Watches in another room so you’re not even tempted to check email or Instagram. Unplugging is key for true relaxation! 

Book an in-home massage or facial (or both!). With Soothe, you can book on-demand right in the app. Choose the day and time that work for your schedule and needs. We recommend an afternoon or early evening to help massage away the stress of the day. Swedish or deep tissue modalities are great options for your staycation massage, as they promote deeper relaxation.

To make your at-home spa vacation even better, choose a 90 or 120-minute massage to get more personalized treatment. You can also add aromatherapy or CBD enhancements for more staycation bliss! Light a few candles and play relaxing music to further the experience.

Adventurous mini vacation: Go exploring

Getting outside is a great way to reduce stress and stay active. But what if you don’t live close to world-class hiking or kayaking? You can still get a taste of adventure without going off the grid! Check your area for local and state parks. Many parks offer walking trails, fishing, and boating rentals. Study up on local wildlife and plants, and keep an eye out while you walk!

If you’re willing to drive a little bit, your staycation could involve a day hike or a trip to a lake, river, or ocean depending on where you live. Take a minute and see what’s within a few hours of your hometown—you may be surprised what’s right around the corner.

After a day of exploring, don’t forget to book a massage. Long walks and hikes can be tough on your muscles. Getting a massage after strenuous activity can help prevent injury, and decrease your recovery time, too. 

Family staycation: Local museums

So the kids are home for the summer, and are driving you a little crazy? Make it a family staycation! Check what museums, shows, or activities are in town for the season. Even if you’ve been to a museum before, chances are they’ll have something new to see! If you have a few days for your staycation, go museum hopping and see them all! Plus, when it’s hot out, indoor museums are a great way to beat the heat. 

Even if your town doesn’t have museums, you’re not out of luck! Look to your local park district, library, or bookstores to see if they have any special events for the summer. Make sure to choose activities that are age-appropriate for all your kids, and that each person gets to pick something to do or see so they’re involved with the planning process. 

Foodie local vacation: “Around the World” potluck

Is your favorite part of traveling is sampling all the different food? You can recreate the experience right at home. Check out the new restaurants around your area. See what types of cuisine are available, and make note of which dishes you’re dying to try. Then, pick up a dish from each restaurant to create your “around the world” feast! Make sure to choose dishes with ingredients and preparations from different countries to satisfy your wanderlust.

Don’t stop at just food, either. Check your town for local breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Then pair your different food dishes with local libations! This type of staycation plan works best with a larger group. So we recommend getting a few other households together to make planning and picking up all the food a little easier. Host your potluck in a backyard or local park. You can even create stations with decorations that represent each country for added flair. 

90-minute mini vacation: On-demand massage

Only have an hour or two? We get it. Not everybody has time for an entire day off, let alone a full-blown vacation, during the summer! But you still deserve to relax, and Soothe has your back. Book an on-demand massage any time, anywhere with the Soothe app! A professional, licensed massage therapist will bring the spa right to you. Just sit back, relax, and let Soothe give you the moment of bliss you deserve. 

See, you don’t need to go far in order to have an amazing mini-vacation! 

Book a massage

The post Take the Stress Out of Planning A Summer Staycation appeared first on Soothe.