Tips To Stay Calm And Centered

Stay calm and centered in the midst of your busy life with these easy (and free!) tips for finding moments of relaxation and gratitude. 

1. Spend two minutes every morning jotting down one thing that you are grateful for– physical, mental, or spiritual. This exercise will force you to take a short break from the chaos of planning out your day and look inward towards what really matters to you. It also helps us to program our brains to think positively and appreciate what we have, while steering clear of pity parties and negativity. You can involve your partner and children in this activity for a wonderfully therapeutic breakfast conversation.

2. Instead of turning on your favorite news program first thing every morning, read an article from a magazine that you never seem to have time to read. News alerts will bombard you all day on your phone and the web, so there is no need to start you day with it unless something is happening that is extremely relevant to your source of income. If you have to watch the news in the morning, give yourself five minutes with your coffee, tea, or breakfast before turning on the TV to let your mind wake up naturally.

3. Take a five or ten minute walk after you eat lunch to clear your mind, help the food you just ate digest, and find energy to tackle the afternoon that lies ahead of y Spending time  outside releases endorphins and calms the mind  you can do some good brain activities that help in building sharp memory, leaving you rejuvenated. Time soaking up fresh air also recharges your creativity and improves your analytical brain function. A walk can be used before a long meeting to get out extra energy and stretch your legs. In addition, step away from your computer if you are bumping up against a wall trying to solve a problem– you will literally return with a fresh perspective.

4. Find time to exercise in some way at some point during your day to improve your overall wellbeing. If you are not fond of running or other high impact cardio activities, practice a short cleansing yoga sequence. Raising your heart rate is healthy for your mind and your body and you will not regret committing yourself to your health in a physical manner. During extremely stressful times, physical activity provides a healthy release and is much more productive than turning to a cocktail or other form of escape.

5. Carve out at least thirty minutes each evening to hang out solo. Curl up with your favorite book if being alone with your thoughts is too much for you. Work your way to simply sitting with your favorite artist playing in the background. Once you are comfortable with this, move away from all external stimuli and simply sit in a quiet peaceful place with a candle burning and a notebook and pen on your lap. Make finding “you” time a part of your everyday routine and reap the benefits.  When you remove the stimuli of television and even loved ones demanding attention, you can rebalance on a personal scale. You will find that this time will quickly turn into your favorite moment of the day.