New York City is one of the great cities not only in present-day but in all human history. It’s vibrant and alive with a collision of world cultures, art, sports, and architecture. It’s a fabulous place to live and work, and no matter how long you live there, there will always be surprises waiting to be discovered. All this being said, the size of New York and the busyness that comes with that can tire a person out. The following will explore a few approaches to disconnecting from the chaos of it all that might be worth your time. Of course, every person is different, and what they find relaxing is therefore different. Take the tips that appeal to you and leave the ones that don’t.

Take Advantage Of Libraries

Very few places in the big city have strictly enforced rules surrounding noise, but the library is one of them. The New York Public Library system contains 92 different library locations throughout the city, with almost 53 million items stored within them. (It is worth noting that if you’re in the Brooklyn or Queens area, it’s the Brooklyn Public Library or Queens Public Library system that you’ll be visiting.) Take an afternoon and find a cozy place to tuck yourself in the library. You can take your headphones off and not be bombarded with noise; the occasional turn of a page is probably all you’re going to have to deal with. You can even use the time to pick up one of those classic novels you’ve been meaning to read for years but haven’t gotten around to. The best thing about this tip is that it can become part of a weekly habit allowing you to inject calm into your regular routine.

Get Out Of The City

New York is at the center of many travel systems and opportunities, given its vital role in economics, art, science, and education. This means that there are tons of options available for people within the city to, with a single ticket, get out of the city. Consider travelling to Niagara Falls from New York or taking a day trip to Washington, DC (although it is a bigger city itself, Washington has a calm, neoclassical vibe that leaves you feeling like you’re walking around in a clean, quiet painting). You might even want to mosey on over to the Hamptons to taste wine and enjoy the fresh breeze.

Visit A Sensory Deprivation Tank

This is one of those activities that instantly produces emphatic interest or disinterest in a person, depending on their comfort with small spaces. Sometimes referred to as a flotation tank or an isolation tank, a sensory deprivation tank is filled with enough water to comfortably float in, and the water is kept at the perfect temperature for the human body resulting in you not being able to feel it after a while. The tank is also soundproof and lightproof and allows you to simply float in nothingness for as long as you’d like. There are several sensory deprivation tank locations within New York City, but some are quite popular, so you might need to book your session in advance. Many people find the experience to be one of the most relaxing experiences they’ve had. It’s fantastic for leaving a person feeling rejuvenated, relaxing muscles (athletes tend to be really aware of the impact), and reducing pain (especially pain from chronic illnesses). Some people even claim the experience bolsters their creative energy.

Get Some Plants

House plants require a little bit of care, but often not a lot. The hobby of gardening not only improves the look of your home but also improves the air quality by reducing airborne toxins and filling your home with richly oxygenated air. This has been shown to boost mood and feelings of relaxation as well as improve creativity and concentration. Humans have evolved around plants, and if you’re living in a big city like New York, you might be lacking a little bit of green in your life. For bonus points, you can turn off all your devices when you tend to your plants (most require weekly care, but each species has its own needs). This can create a little mini-ritual that cultivates feelings of centeredness. It is especially effective to combine the touching of soil and plants with digital disconnection as both of these actions have a positive impact on feelings of groundedness.

The above list should have pointed out a few ways you can disconnect from the rush of the city. Of course, there are far more options than this. Once you start looking for little moments of peace, you’ll start seeing them everywhere.