Regardless of whether you lead a busy lifestyle that is always keeping you on the edge of your seat or if you are suffering from an anxiety disorder, staying calm can be quite a challenge. In addition to personal issues like relationships and financial non-security, we are constantly bombarded by bad news from all over the world, which can all be very overwhelming. Plenty of people are feeling stressed out on a regular basis and it is starting to interfere with their everyday life.

Well, how can we deal with this stress and calm our mind and body? Some people would recommend meditation as one of the most used ways of achieving calmness. However, the truth is that this method simply does not work for everyone. Certain individuals cannot sit in a place and meditate. With that in mind, what other options are out there? Luckily, there are many for you to try out so keep on reading.

Talk to someone

If you are one of those people who’ve tried meditation and realized that it does not help, you can perhaps try talking to someone. Depending on the issue that is bothering you, discussing it with a person close to you might bring you closer to a solution of sorts. You can workshop various outcomes of a situation to see what the worst-case scenario might be, which might ease your mind and help you understand that there is nothing to be scared of. Plus, talking to someone might distract you as you will also listen to their problems and go

Start a journal

In case you think you’ll be bothering people by delving into your problems or you don’t have anyone who would understand you, you’re wrong – there is always someone you can talk to. However, until you are comfortable with sharing, you can try journaling. There are many mental health benefits of writing down your thoughts, from boosting your mood to lowering your stress levels. Moreover, it also improves your memory and immunity. Journaling might seem difficult at first but there is no need to be poetic or grammatically correct. You can write down things like what you had for breakfast, what you are thinking, where you would like to travel, what is bothering you, what you are afraid of, etc. Finally, while you can do this on your PC, writing by hand is recommended as it will stimulate and train your brain to relax.

Make your favorite meal

Doing something familiar might also help calm you down. For instance, you can cook your favorite dish. This might boost your mood, especially if this meal is not something you often prepare. Thinking about the process and the end result might take your mind off of the things that are stressing you out. On the other hand, you can also consider baking seeing as how you really have to focus on what you are doing because the instructions are very precise and the smallest of mistakes might result in an inedible treat. Picking a somewhat complex recipe you haven’t tried before will surely keep your mind occupied. Once you’ve made a dish, make sure you eat mindfully and enjoy every single bite.

Do some coloring

Do you miss childhood when you had no worries in your mind? Well, you can’t completely go back but why not bring back a calming element? Yes, we are talking about coloring. You can easily find adult coloring books nowadays, which can be truly therapeutic by releasing stress and bringing your relief.

Be crafty

Perhaps coloring is not enough to get you out of your thoughts. In that case, consider a bigger creative undertaking. Being crafty comes in all shapes and forms. You can try your hand at painting, for example. From using oils, acrylics and watercolors to painting on canvas, on walls and on clothes, you really have plenty of options here. Then, you can start knitting, crocheting or even sewing clothes. Something else you can do is start a garden. If you don’t already have one, this will require a lot of research when it comes to choosing plants and learning how to take care of them. Not only will this take your mind off your worries but it will also benefit your health as plants are known to have many perks.

Pick up an instrument

If none of the previously mentioned activities seems like the right hobby for you, you can consider picking up an instrument. You don’t need to have any kind of goal; you can simply play as a mindfulness exercise. Maracas, hand drums and chimes are all great instruments to start with as they don’t require a lot of knowledge. You can also use your voice. On the other hand, if you already play an instrument, play what you know and block everything else out.

Get a massage

Maybe your body is under too much stress and that is affecting your mind as well. To relax your body, you should book a massage with a local professional. There are various types of massages that will put you in a tranquil state of body and mind. Alternatively, you can invest in quality equipment such as a neck and shoulders massager that will allow you to give yourself quick massages at home and ease tension in your body. A good massage will even improve the quality of your sleep so you definitely cannot overlook this method of calming yourself down.

Work out

Some people find that working out is the best way to calm their mind and body. Try out a combination of different exercises that will keep you in shape and boost your dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine levels, which all play a role in regulating your mood. In case you don’t have access to a gym, you can follow a YouTube tutorial from the comfort of your home or exercise outside. On the other hand, you can try other activities, such as running, cycling or swimming. For example, find an area that is not too crowded if you want to go running or cycling and go at your own pace. If you have access to a pool, swimming laps can also help you relax as there are not many distractions and being underwater might help you silence your thoughts as well.

Spend time in nature

As we said, you can work out in nature as well. Just spending time in nature is beneficial for our mood so even if you decide against working out on a certain occasion, you can still enjoy all the perks. For instance, take a walk in a park or go hiking on a nearby trail. Consider doing this on your own and without any music or podcasts. This will allow your thoughts to run free and you can focus on your breathing and be more mindful. If you prefer the beach, you can also just sit there and listen to the sounds of the water. Lie down in your yard and stargaze if that is something that suits you. For some people, going camping and staring into an open flame is soothing so you will simply have to try out a few things.

As you can see, there are many ways you can calm down your mind and body even if you don’t want to implement meditation into your everyday routine. From picking up hobbies like painting and singing to getting massages and exercising to finding a trustworthy person you can open up to, methods of relaxing abound.

This article was submitted exclusively to CrystalWind.ca by Emma Williams.
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