There’s chaos and drama all around you and all over the world right now, so how are you supposed to feel calm and at peace instead of anxiety-ridden and totally chaotic? It might seem like an impossible task, but it’s doable. Here are 10 ways to achieve it.
- Take a break. Sometimes it’s easy to think that you need to jump into your normal routine and busy schedule when something dramatic and stressful has happened, but remember that you need to take a break. A simple walk through nature or relaxing with a cup of tea for a few minutes can help to clear your mind for a bit.
- Talk about your fears. It’s no good to bottle up your feelings. When they aren’t expressed, they can become more stressful and wreak havoc on your body. Ever had the experience of feeling better after expressing what was sitting on your heart? You might’ve even felt that your feelings were not bound by reality, which shows how speaking to another person about what you’re going through can give you greater clarity and perspective.
- Tune out of negativity. Now’s not the time to chat to friends who always see the glass as being empty. You need to stay away from negative energy as much as possible so that you don’t get brought down by it. When it comes to world issues that are stressing you out, try to limit how much news you read and watch. Although it’s a must to stay informed about what’s happening in the world, you should be selective about the info that’s online so you don’t get caught up in fear-mongering antics and depressing fake news.
- Jumpstart your feelings of calm. Now’s the time to think back to all the stressful things you’ve experienced and overcome. By reminding yourself of those, you can maintain a steady inner peace even when people around you are letting stress rule them. Tell yourself, “I can do this, I’ve overcome X and X” and you’ll feel that you’ll be okay. I promise that you will survive.
- Meditate in any way that works for you. There are many different ways to meditate, but ultimately they’re all about tuning into yourself and being more mindful. For some, meditating means breathing deeply in a quiet space; for others, it’s speaking to a higher power. Whatever works for you, try it and stick to it.
- Distract yourself. After you’ve dealt with your thoughts and feelings for the day, such as by speaking to friends or writing in a journal, try not to wallow in the anxiety. The mind has a tendency to want to repeat fearful thoughts, so try to move on to something else that makes you feel good. Do something creative or watch a feel-good movie.
- Focus on right now. You might want to think about the future and what will happen, but that’s sure to make you feel stressed out because no one can give you an answer about that. So, the best thing you can do is to try to focus on the present day. This is the only time you have under your control. The great thing about giving it your energy is that it prevents your mind from wandering to the past or future, which reduces feelings of helplessness.
- Be kind to others. When you can open up your heart to those around you, or people you don’t even know, and do something good for them, this will have the result of making you feel better too. Love and kindness always soothe restlessness and fear. They’re also a great way to bring meaning into your life because those good deeds remind us of what’s most important.
- Say thank you. It might sound cliched, but being grateful is an excellent way to jumpstart you into focusing on the present moment and what you should be thankful for. When we go through difficult times, we tend to think of all the things that are going wrong and remain stuck in our anxiety. Yet, for everything that is negative, there are at least a few things that are positive. If you have shelter, food, and loved ones who care about you, you already have a lot more than many people out there. Don’t take it for granted.
- Remember it will end. Although the chaotic situation might feel like it will never come to an end, it will – everything does. It can give you peace just by remembering this.
