Finding the moments of calm

A lily pad and a flower on a river.

When life is chaotic and overstimulating, it is important to find those moments of calm in your day.

Some days can be very overwhelming. It can feel as if there is not a moment's piece, to simply step back, and be present. I am working on getting better at taking the time to just relax in my day. Here are some ways that you can appreciate calmness throughout your daily routine.

1. Meditation/Relaxation: For some people, applications like the Headspace one can help you with your morning meditation, or for others, watching an ASMR video can help calm you down. Personally, I find having a moment in the morning to just be, with no phones, helps. As a commuter, I try and spend five or so minutes on the bus without any screens or headphones, and to just appreciate the ride.

2. Music: Though I've got friends who's favourite genre is metal, and maybe this doesn't apply to them, music can be a therapeutic way to relax in your day. My current obsession is String Quartets on YouTube, because there are many classical covers of popular rock songs. It can distract you less without the lyrics, but also, they just sound so beautiful! 

3. Reading: Unfortunately I don't have time to do this every day, but I try to make time to read outside when I can, rather than somewhere busy and loud. Taking yourself to a nearby park (or the lawns, if you're at uni) can be very relaxing and put you in the right headspace for reading. 

4. Writing: Again, there may not be time for this every day, but taking time to write (especially in an analogue way, like pen and paper) is a great relaxation method. If you don't write creatively, journaling is certainly popular at the moment. For me, even writing out my to-do list in the morning can be a moment with myself of calm, which may sound weird when the list is incredibly long!

5. No Screens: An obvious one, but the calmest points in my day is when I am away from my phone, laptop, or work computer, and can simply enjoy the company of my friends, or be in bed snuggled with my cat. 

Tagged in What messes with your head