“The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. The calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom,” by James Allen.
Are you stressed, wound up or anxious? Never fear, because here are 12 easy tips to help you stay calm under just about any circumstances. So what does it mean to be calm? Most dictionaries say it is being still without feeling agitated or emotional. Most people know how that feels, even if they don’t often feel calm.
You may know someone who always seems cool, calm and collected. But how do they do it? Are they born that way, or do they have to work at it? Are there ways to develop that serene feeling, or are some of us condemned to feel stressed out all the time?
Before you can answer those questions, you need to know more about stress. Science says that moderate stress can often motivate you to get things done. But when it’s constant, stress is bad for you, both physically and mentally. If stress is bad enough, it can even kill you. So, you need to pay attention to your stress levels and develop a state of calm, rather than rushing from one stressed out day to the next.
Here are 12 tips you can start using right now to de-stress yourself. The secret to gaining that enviable state of calm is to practice these steps regularly. So, take a few minutes, take a breath, and read about how you can become peacefully calm under pressure. You owe it to yourself, as well as to your body and mind.
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1. Exercise
Exercise is a great way of getting rid of stress and tension. Even if you aren’t the exercise type, just walking around the block will help you to calm down if you’re feeling stressed. Sometimes you don’t even know you’re tense. But doing a little exercise can help you realize how much calmer you could feel. And instead of tiring you out, it will give you loads of energy.
The secret to exercise, and so many of these other tips, is to do them regularly. People often say “I don’t have time to exercise” or “It’s too expensive.” But, the truth of the matter is that you have to make time and nearly every day. In fact, people should exercise at least every second day for a minimum of 30 minutes at a time. Make it a habit.
Also, you need aerobic exercise, such as walking or playing basketball, as well as weight-bearing exercise. You don’t have to join a fancy gym for this. A simple walk or run in a park or in your neighborhood will give you all the benefits of a treadmill. To add a weight-bearing aspect to this, just carry a can of beans or anything else in each hand, and you have a wallet-friendly workout.
When you exercise, your body produces chemicals called endorphins. These natural chemicals are your body’s way of reducing stress and improving sleep. As you will see later, good sleep is essential for tackling stress and for developing a sense of calm, too. Once you start to exercise regularly, you will find you become more optimistic, you can focus more clearly and you feel happier.