”10 Ways to Live a Calmer Life” is a collaborative post. Please see the disclosure page for more information. Disclaimer – always verify medical information with your doctor or a professional.
If you’re looking to boost your mental health and live a calmer more relaxing life going forward, the good news is there are lots of things you can do.
Here are just a few of the most beneficial tips and techniques you can use to transform yourself into a calmer, happier human being…
1. Just Breathe
Breathing is something so simple; so innate that we tend to completely ignore it. But the breath is important. We always have it with us and we can use it to calm us down when we’re feeling stressed. Try these breathing techniques whenever you’re feeling less than calm and you’ll be amazed at how quickly you start to feel relaxed and able to handle whatever comes your way.
2. Meditate
I know, I know! Everywhere you turn people are telling you to meditate, but that’s because it really can help to bring more calm and relaxation into your life. Taking the time to sit, focusing on your breath rather than your thoughts, can give you the mental breathing space you need to stop ruminating and start appreciating your life and just being right here, right where you are, in this moment. Give it a chance, it can be transformative.
3. Do Something New
Trying something new for the first time is a sure-fire way to bring more joy into your life. Ideally, the new things you try should be experiences rather than possessions because numerous studies have shown that new experiences make us happier than material possessions.
Whether it’s going up in a hot air balloon, visiting a part of the city you’ve never ventured to before, trying out a new book, or taking a pottery class, do one new thing every week and feel the difference.
4. Take a Walk
Taking the time to get outdoors as often as you can is a fantastic way of improving your mental health. When you walk, not only do you burn calories, which can help you to stay in shape, but you breathe in clean air and you notice things around you; trees, streams, birds, and squirrels. This can help you to feel more at ease with your place in nature. If you hike while the sun’s shining, you’ll get a mood-boosting hit of Vitamin D too.
5. Be Grateful
Keeping a gratitude journal, in which you list the things you have been grateful for at the end of each day, is a great way to train your brain to look for the positives in life. It can help you to start appreciating the small things that you usually overlook such as the pretty color of the sky or how the first sip of coffee in the morning tastes, and when you appreciate these little things, it’s easier to be calm and content in life.
6. Drink a Cup of Chamomile
Chamomile tea is an old natural remedy for soothing stress and anxiety and helping you to get more sleep (which can also help you to be calmer). Take a few moments to drink a cup whenever you want to feel calm and you’ll feel better in no time.
It’s important to drink high-quality chamomile if you want to get the most benefit from this and Mindful Searching has a great buyers guide to help you with that. Of course, you could grow and dry your own too – gardening is great for stress relief.
7. Switch Off Social Media
GASP! Is this even possible? Yes, it really is. I’ve take days off social media. It has helped me so much to do this every once in a while. Have you noticed yourself feeling more stressed, upset or even angry after scrolling through Facebook or Instagram? You’re not alone. Although there are many positives to using social media, there is no denying that it can, and is having a negative effect on the mental health of millions of people.
The thing about social media is that it shows you the best version of the people around you; you don’t see their struggles or the mundanities of their everyday life. This can give you the false impression that everyone is doing better than you, has more than you and is happier than you. That can really get you down! Coveting is a joy killer. So, if you want to have more peace in your life, why not switch off social media for a day, week or even a month. Heck, why not ditch it altogether and spend more time reading the stuff that truly nourishes your soul?
8. Make a Happy Playlist
Music is an important part of most people’s lives. It can entertain us for sure, but where it really shines is in connecting us with our emotions and helping us to feel what we’re truly feeling, That’s why so many of us listen to sad songs after a breakup!
Of course, if music can help you to feel your sad feelings, it can also connect you to happier, more joyful emotions. So, why not create a happy playlist on Spotify or other audio streaming platform. Fill it with your favorite upbeat tracks and play it whenever you’re feeling less than your best and you want to change that.
9. Get More Sleep.
Sleep is magic for mental health. It can help you to better regulate your emotions and live in state of calm. If you do not get enough sleep, you’re more likely to suffer from stress, depression, and anxiety. It can even cause you to put on weight! So, get to bed early sleepyhead!
10. Get Therapy
If you’re under a serious amount of stress; if you’re feeling truly depressed; if you’re frequently anxious, give therapy a try. Lots of the things on this list can help if you’re feeling a little blue or you have a little too much stress in your life, but if your mental health is seriously suffering, you probably need professional help.
A good therapist can help you to sort through your negative thoughts and actions. They can help you understand why you feel and act the way you do, and crucially, they can help you to make positive and lasting changes that will give you more peace of mind more often than not. If you find you aren’t compatible with a therapist, find a new one. The important thing here is to get help! Back in 2004 a report showed about 27% of Americans were in therapy. I imagine that number has risen as people realize the benefits of therapy and the stigma of going to therapy has decreased tremendously over the years. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health.
You might not be able to live a calm life 100 percent of the time, but with these tips and techniques, you should start feeling more relaxed more often. Please share in the comments below any tips or tricks you have to living a calmer life.
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If you think your life or health might be at risk, seek professional help. If you can’t do it for yourself, do it for your family. Mental health is just as important as physical health. These are just some of the tips toward improving your life. If you are feeling down or depressed for more days than not, please seek medical attention. If you are feeling like you cannot go on, please call the suicide hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or chat here>>> https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/ Or visit the suicide prevention lifeline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
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