TL;DR We all have our own worries. There will be times when you will feel overwhelmed by them. Whenever you feel this way, there are practical steps you can do to make yourself calmer. The more of these practical ways you do to calm yourself, the more you’re going to make a habit out of it, developing a calmer personality.

In this time and age, it is hard to keep our cool when we are constantly bombarded with information about the economic crisis, troubles overseas, and civil unrest. And not to mention the things that we are dealing on our day-to-day lives. 

As some people say, calmness is a superpower. And it holds true when you are surrounded by things that can make you anxious and stressed. But we must always try our best to be calm. Knowing how to be calm in any situation can help you see things clearly, think logically, and make better decisions.

Being calm doesn’t happen overnight, especially when you are constantly overwhelmed and stressed. But it is always a good step forward to recognize the problem and look for ways to improve yourself. Here are some tips on how to become calmer.

Give Yourself Space

When things don’t go your way, you don’t have to react immediately. Give yourself space to think and process your emotions and thoughts. Take a few minutes or hours off, go for a walk, meditate, and do simple things that may divert your attention from your problem for a while. This will help you gain a better perspective on your problem.

When you return to what stressed you with a clearer mind and a new perspective, you will be able to find better solutions. 

Find Something That Calms You 

When we are stressed we are overwhelmed with negative emotions, and this may be tiring for our minds. And most of the time we don’t address this problem, we just keep moving forward which in turn worsens the situation. 

Our minds are as important as our bodies, so we need to take care of them as well. When we are stressed, one of the best ways to change our thoughts is by finding things to calm them down. It may be a video, music, imagery, or even a visualization. These things will help you calm yourself and clear your thoughts. 

Limiting News

There was a time when the news was an essential part of our daily lives. When we have our coffee in the morning, we pair it with a newspaper, and at night, we watch the evening news. Being informed about what is happening around us is a great thing, but it should be done in moderation, especially when some of the headlines are agitating.

I am not saying that you should stay away from the news; you just need to find a reliable news source where you can limit your consumption of information. Finding a trustworthy website where you can check the news daily is the first step. Being able to limit the negative information intake that might affect your thinking is taking care of your well-being. You don’t need to stress about other things, and you can focus more on yourself. 

Expect the Unexpected

Our everyday life is unpredictable; we don’t know what awaits us in the future. Of course, planning is vital, but don’t expect everything to go exactly as planned. Calm people have this kind of mindset, where they are aware that everything will not go as planned, but they are adapting and adjusting as they go along.

Having an open mindset will help you get through things easier. You will focus on solutions rather than complaining. This will cultivate a calm personality no matter what unforeseen situations may occur.

Exercise

We frequently hear about the physical benefits of exercise, but we often overlook the effects of regular exercise on our mental health. Exercise is one of the best mood changers. If you are having a bad day, work out. Having a stressful day at work, workout.

Moving your body helps clear your mind. When you exercise, you focus on the workout, which gives your mind a break from whatever is bothering you. This helps calm your mind and clear your thoughts. You can let all negative emotions out during an intense cardio routine and be a calmer person after the session.

When we exercise, the body produces dopamine, a chemical that makes us feel pleasure, satisfaction, and motivation. Dopamine is our body’s own “happy chemical”, which helps us cope with stress better.

Live the Moment

Yoga, meditation, and writing in a journal are some activities that we can do to calm ourselves. What’s common with all of them is that they let us enjoy ourselves at the moment.

Living in the moment helps us to be grateful for what we have in our lives. It gives us the feeling of satisfaction that comes from not wanting more but being content with what we have. This helps us find peace in the daily rush, thus making our thoughts calmer.

Looking at calm people and how they handle a stressful situation Keeping their cool and tranquility is a sight to be awed by. Becoming a calm person does not happen overnight; it takes a lot of practice and patience.

You, too, can develop a calm personality with the proper habits and mindset. Start small and move at your own pace; slow progress is better than none at all.

Dr. Krysti (Lan Chi) Vo, MD, is a psychiatrist, speaker, and advisor. She specializes in helping people be better versions of themselves. For more articles like this, visit our website.