Calm Down & Live More Mindfully

Don’t try to force anything. Let life be a deep let- go. God opens millions of flowers every day without forcing their buds.

There’s a great saying that goes, “The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” Today, people throughout the world are more stressed out than ever. Our bodies can handle some stress from time to time, but a chronic state of stress is not healthy for anyone.

When you are amid a stressful week at work, having tensions at home or just feeling overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list, it can be hard to calm down and live in the moment.

“Mindfulness, and the ability to relax that mindfulness gives you, is a vital tool in sustaining a healthy life.”

Mindfulness is a state of calm awareness. It’s learning how to pay attention to the present moment, making it virtually impossible to worry about anything else. And it’s catching on.

You can also try these five simple ways to calm down and bring more awareness into each day :

1. Deep Belly Breathing

When you pay attention to your breathing, you take your mind off your thoughts. You may not even realize how shallow your breath is for most of the day.

You can start by simply setting aside 10 minutes a day to just focus on breathing from your abdomen and see for yourself if you feel calmer. You can try technique—head slightly down, tongue at the top of the teeth/bottom of the gums, index fingers pointing down, slightly up on the toes, breathing in and out through the nose ten times.

2. Walk, Run, or Move Your Body

That movement and mindfulness go together. Runners often talk about the Zen-like feelings that come after a long run. And most people say they feel calmer even after a short walk around the block. But what’s more is that researchers have found specifically that walking in green spaces—outside areas with trees and plants—can lessen brain fatigue.

Other movements like meditation to help improve the flow of or life force in the body which brings together stretching and strengthening poses, breathing exercises and meditation practices, can be mindful forms of movement with great benefits too.

3. Color!

It’s fun! With a set of colored pencils and a coloring book, you can easily unplug from your life and be present with an art project without needing years of art school. That engaging in an art project can help reduce stress.

4. Become a Single- Tasker

Almost everyone knows the perils of multi-tasking. While checking emails on your phone, you decide to make some tea, then you realize you need to put away your laundry and suddenly, the kettle is screaming. Multi-tasking isn’t just bad for your kitchen pots, it can increase your body’s production of stress hormones.

Instead try single-tasking. Do one task at a time with no distractions. It’s better for your brain and better for your stress levels too.

5. Put Yourself in Flight Mode

If you are someone who has trouble falling asleep at night, Experiment with going into flight mode at night or at any point in the day when you may want to focus on a project or relax without all the bells and buzz from your devices. We all know that a good night’s sleep is a vital way to recharge, so consider flight mode to help you rest better.