Tough Times – 5 Strategies You Can Use to Calm Your Mind When it Seems Impossible

Tough Times – 5 Strategies You Can Use to Calm Your Mind When it Seems Impossible

Life is stressful. We all get a little overwhelmed from time to time, but what happens when anxiety or anger seem to take over and you find it difficult to calm down? The mind has a way of getting carried away in these situations, so having a few methods in your arsenal to calm it down can be extremely helpful, especially when life seems to be too much. Below, we reveal several ways to calm your mind when it seems impossible. Are you going through tough times – 5 strategies you can use to calm your mind when ti seems impossible.

1. Aromatherapy

Your sense of smell is a powerful ally in helping you achieve a calm, relaxing state of mind. When you’re feeling stressed or anxious, certain scents can decrease these feelings to a manageable level. If you’ve been experiencing excessive stress or anxiety, get yourself an electric aromatherapy diffuser and a few essential oils known for their stress-reducing properties. It’s amazing how quickly the right aroma can settle your mind. Scents that work best for relaxation include lavender, rosemary, lemon, peppermint, and ylang-ylang. 

2. Breathe

When you’re feeling anxious or stressed, you tend to breathe shallower and faster. This signals the brain to get into “fight or flight” mode. It’s a vicious cycle that only gets worse if you don’t interrupt it. You can stop the loop by doing some deep breathing. The long inhales and exhales trigger a calming reaction in the brain, putting your fight-or-flight reaction on the back burner, calming your mind, and relaxing your body. 

The internet is full of breathing techniques you can use to calm your mind, so if stress and anxiety play a regular role in your daily life, be sure to explore these exercises to find the one that works best for you. 

3. Admit Your Feelings and Challenge Your Thoughts

Sometimes, all it takes to calm down is admitting how you’re feeling. If you’re feeling anxious, own up to this, and then deal with the thoughts that go with that feeling. Sometimes this anxiety is stemming from a problem you could solve. If you’ve been delaying your taxes, for example, getting in contact with a tax agent can nix your anxiety. 

Sometimes, however, it’s irrational thoughts causing you to self-sabotage. When you have thoughts like this, ask yourself:

• Is this a rational thought?
• What is the worst that can happen? How can I handle that?
• How likely is it that this worst-case scenario will eventuate? 
• Have I dealt with anything like this before?

Once you’ve answered these questions, reframe your way of thinking. Focus on what you can do rather than what might happen to you. 

4. Visualize Calm

This technique goes hand-in-hand with the breathing exercises you’ve learned. Take a few deep breaths and create a mental image of yourself in a calm state. See yourself relaxed and visualize yourself handling a stressful situation calmly and confidently. Refer to these visuals anytime you’re feeling stressed or anxious. 

5. Listen to Music

Music, like your sense of smell, has a dramatic effect on your mind. If you’re feeling stressed, grab your headphones and turn on some of your favourite music to ease your mind. You may want to skip the pop and jazz genres if you’re trying to calm down, though, as studies show that classical music has a faster effect on calming the mind and body after a stressful situation. 

Today’s busy world makes daily life more stressful than ever before. Anxiety and stress are common, but that doesn’t mean they have to rule your day. If you’re feeling particularly anxious or stressed, try the tactics above to calm your mind, even when it seems impossible.