5 Ways to Calm Down Quickly

Are you finding it hard to stay calm right now?

Living in stressful times as we are right now and needing to stay at home can be challenging if outdoor activities are limited. Being on the front lines of essential services is even more challenging knowing you are at risk.

During these difficult times, it is easy to let our minds run freely to places we’d rather not go, where negative feelings live and feed off of each other.

So wouldn’t it be nice if we could use these negative feelings as a reminder to do something else to redirect our mind to a calmer state? Without overdoing it?

Here are 5 quick ways to do just that.

1. Gratitude

Gratitude has been proven to be a sure fire way of staying positive, and keeping us in the present.

If you like prompts, the 5 Minute Journal from Intelligent Change comes as a book or an app that you complete every morning and evening. I used the app for a number of years. Gratitude is part of my daily practice now.

They also have a great weekly article filled with tips for staying positive and productive: https://www.intelligentchange.com/.

2. Mindfulness

I first learned about mindfulness from Dr. Geoff Soloway in his Mindfulness at Work program at UBC.

Mindful.org defines mindfulness as “the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.”

I have found this practice helpful to keep me present and away from my racing thoughts.

Geoff’s Take 5: Mindfulness-in-Action Tool is a great resource.

3. Positive Intelligence

I took a special course for coaches on Positive Intelligence. I personally incorporated this approach into my personal life as a way to increase my own resiliency and reduce the impact of my negative feelings and stress.

The book is quite good as well.

4. Navigate 5-4-3-2-1

This is another great coping technique that uses paying attention to our senses to bring us back to the present.

5. Meditation

I began my meditation practice after I became aware of my racing thoughts which were largely driven by my out of control feelings. Meditation helps bring me to a calmer state.

For a free meditation, check this out: http://www.freemindfulness.org/download.

You can also read about the immeasurable value of medication for coping.

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I incorporate many of these approaches into my coaching and consulting, as well as my personal life.

You might have other ways of calming down and I encourage you to do what you can.

Let me know if you would like to discuss other strategies for creating balance in your life.

Photo: Tammy Brimner/TLBVelo Photography