This may be both the simplest yet trickiest method on the list. Simple in the sense you don’t need to buy anything, and anybody can do it. It’s tricky because clearing your mind is a skill that needs to be learned and mastered. There are a few different ways to do this with the most well-known probably being meditation, which has several potential benefits like reducing stress, improving sleep, managing anxiety and promoting self-awareness. There are numerous free resources online to help you learn meditation.

Another option is practicing mindfulness, also known as living in the moment. The idea is to not think about the past or future and focus entirely on what you’re doing at the present time. Many consider this another form of meditation. Your focus could be on something as basic as taking a breath or enjoying a walk, experiencing what you normally take for granted on a deeper level. You do this by blocking out all distractions. The more you practice it throughout the day, the more headspace you should have leading to clearer thinking. This helps us to deal better with any problems or stress life throws our way, whilst little everyday annoyances become insignificant and not worth your time.

Our tips may sound like they require a certain level of effort to make a habit of and you may be thinking you don’t have any extra energy to spare. However, compared to sitting down in front of the TV, which although relaxing, drains our energy, the above should have the opposite effect. Self-improvement brings accomplishment and growing your skillsets can reinvigorate you. Don’t think of winding down as getting ready for bed, think of it as a time to reflect and switch off from the real world.