Relaxing Podcasts To Curl Up With Now

Looking for relaxing podcasts can feel like a mission. There are thousands of offerings on Spotify alone, and committing to listening to something for a long time without knowing if it will help calm your stress, anxiety or improve your sleep can be enough to put you off giving it a try at all. 

But whether you struggle with your sleep, suffer with anxiety or are going through a stressful period (or even want help relaxing at the end of the day), a calming podcast could be a seriously effective way of shifting your mindset.  

Want to give it a try? We’ve found the best relaxing podcasts available, so you don’t have to wade through them… 

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Best podcasts for a sense of ‘calm’ 

Struggle to switch off at the end of the day? Getting nervous about that big interview? Feeling like life is getting a bit too hectic and you need a moment of calm? A calming podcast could be the answer. Here are our picks of the best podcasts for relaxing.. 

Find Your Daily Calm 

A calming podcast offering guided mindful meditations and literary works to give you a dose of zen. This podcast will provide everything you need to better your mental wellbeing, from learning how to diffuse a negative mindset to releasing resentment and practising gratitude. 

Meditation is scientifically proven to slow down how our brain processes information, which can slow down racing thoughts. It affects most parts of the brain and, when done regularly, can have a lasting positive effect on our mental health.   

Calm Down Wake Up: Yoga Nidra (Yoga Sleep) 

One of the best podcasts to relax. An alternative type of meditation, this podcast guides you through the practice of yoga Nidra. Yoga Nidra (or yogic sleep) aims to put you into a state between being awake and sleeping. This type of yoga is usually practised while laying or sitting in a comfortable position.   

Yoga Nidra teaches how to wander between awareness and sleep, where our body enters a state of homeostasis (a sense of equilibrium). It’s perfect for anyone who finds it hard to wind down and relax but is also known to help with anxiety and depression.  

The Calmer You Podcast 

If you prefer something a little lighter and interactive, one of the most relaxing podcasts is The Calmer You podcast by Chloe Botheridge (a coach and hypnotherapist). It explains our thought processes and how we can manipulate our mindset to live a calmer life. It also targets specific issues, such as the fear of public speaking, handling burnout and increasing confidence. 

Best podcasts to reduce stress 

Stress manifests itself in many shapes and forms, whether it be through physical or mental ailments. Although stress is a natural part of life, it can be hard to ‘switch off’ a stressful feeling. However, if you want to give it a try — some podcasts can help… 

The Daily Meditation Podcast    

For anyone that’s already an avid meditator or likes podcasts with soothing voices, this one provides a different meditation every two days, covering a range of issues such as intense stress, health anxiety, letting go of past mistakes and reducing anger.                                                     

With a wealth of episodes covering almost all stressful feelings, there is something for everyone – no matter what kind of stress you are experiencing.  

De-Stress Yourself Podcast 

This one is for the perfectionists — and serves as a reminder to let go of unrealistic expectations of themselves. With debates, relatable guest speakers and covering daily topics that may make you feel less alone, it’s a great way to de-stress without having to enter a meditative state.    

Burnout Buster with Pam Burrows 

This podcast takes on stress from more of an educational angle, explaining how energy burnout happens and identifying our own individual ‘red flags’. It recognises what triggers us to burnout, when burnout is on the horizon, and how to slow down. Each episode starts and ends with light meditation and focuses on different aspects of stress and burnout.   

Best podcasts to help you sleep 

There’s nothing worse than not being able to sleep. It takes a toll on your body and mental wellbeing, as it is one of the most important things our bodies need to function properly. If you suffer with your sleep, or feel like your mind is too ‘switched on’ to drift away, try a sleep podcast.  

Sleep Wave 

For some, it takes a long sleep meditation to get to sleep — and this sleep hypnosis podcast offers just that. Award-winning meditation guide and hypnotherapist Jessica Porter knows how to help you drift off into a peaceful, deep sleep with the help of her soothing guided meditations. 

I Can’t Sleep Podcast 

It may sound too simple to be true, but this podcast series is full of stories that are so boring that they induce you into a deep slumber. With subjects ranging from oatmeal to fences, vocalised in a monotone voice, this mundane format can be really effective for anyone who finds non-stimulating background noise helpful as a means of getting to sleep. 

Send Me To Sleep 

This podcast introduces various ways of inducing that sleepy feeling, from sleep meditations to bedtime stories. It’s an excellent option for anyone who isn’t sure what works for them, as it offers a range of methods and techniques to choose form. 

FAQs 

Can listening to podcasts reduce stress? 

Everyone is different in how they deal with stress — but if you have never found anything that helps you, it might be a good idea to try a stress-relieving podcast.  

It is a scientific fact that when meditation is done correctly and with full focus, it can put the brain into a state of peace and tranquillity, slowing down any racing thoughts and restoring serenity.  

What is the best podcast for anxiety? 

Some podcasts can help with anxiety, but if you really want to understand your anxiety and better your mindset, The Anxiety Slayer or Owning It: The Anxiety Podcast may be good to try.  

Can podcasts help you sleep? 

Many people find that guided sleep meditations help them to fall asleep and help them remain in a deeper, longer sleep. Others find that just some background noise or soothing sounds of nature help them to relax enough to drift off.  

You can find other calming podcasts on Spotify, Apple podcasts or Google podcasts. 

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