Simple ways to find your inner peace and calm every day.

Finding inner peace and calm in this time of chaos has not been the easiest thing.  All of my children are at home, so it’s hard to find a space that’s quiet and uninhabited.

The current news has also penetrated the pockets of peace and quiet that used to occupy my home.  I wasn’t the type of person who would listen to the news every day, but lately it’s been hard to tear myself away from it because I can’t ignore the collective suffering of millions of people around the globe.

This has added unprecedented stress in my life that I usually can step away from.  In the beginning, I thought I could handle being locked down and isolated, because I’m a quiet introvert.  As the weeks flew by, I missed being surrounded by people.  I didn’t realize that the tiny interactions that took place each day made a difference in my emotional and psychological health.

I missed saying hi and bye to the parents and staff at my kids’ schools, I missed being greeted by the local shop owners, and I even missed the greetings from the employees at my favorite grocery store.

I know that many of you have had to face the same challenges in your home and your workplace.  Some have had to blend home, school, and workspaces, to the chagrin of many parents.

Adjusting to this new normal is challenging and still ongoing.  So how can you find time to restore peace and balance in your busy day?

When my 3 boys were still babies, all I wanted to do was sleep.  When you’re tired, busy, and your time is sporadic, I suggest the following to help you find your peace and calm (in addition to sleeping when the baby sleeps).

DEEP BREATHING EXERCISES

Deep breathing helps to take your mind off of whatever is causing you stress and redirects it to your breath.  It can help you relax when your mind has trouble focusing or when you’re feeling anxious about something.

It will also help deliver more oxygen into your lungs, stimulating the vagus nerve and activating the parasympathetic nervous system to help you relax.  Be sure you’re breathing slowly in and out so you don’t become light headed.  Notice how your body relaxes as you continue to breathe.  You can do this anywhere and anytime you need to find your inner peace and calm.

For those of you who have more time and energy, the following suggestions require a bit more investment.  If you can help it, find a time when you’re not going to be disturbed, like in the morning before the kids are up.

I trained myself to sleep about 20-30 minutes earlier on the weekdays so that I can have time to myself to practice relaxation techniques like meditation.  Since daylight savings time ended, I have even more time now to spend by myself.

When your schedule is full, it’s important care for yourself each day, even if it’s just 5 minutes.  This helps to alleviate guilt you may have for not having enough time for yourself or using most of your time on others.  You want to make sure you find your inner peace and calm each day to help recharge your batteries.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND NEWS DETOX

The news and social media sites are very addicting and they want to make sure it stays that way.  It can also be a source of stress and anxiety if you’re comparing yourself to others or you’re suffering from crisis fatigue.

You can still stay informed without inundating yourself with everything that’s going on.  I take a break for 24 hours one day out of the week from the news and social media.  It helps me become centered so I can relax and focus on the things that matter most to me.

GROUNDING/EARTHING/NATURE

Grounding and earthing are used interchangeably.  The type of grounding I’m talking about exposes you to nature and discharges the electrical field around your body to release the electrons into the earth.

Mother Nature has a calming effect on me.  I always feel much more centered after I’ve spent some time outdoors.  It can be gardening, hiking, walking along the beach, or anything that involves nature.

If you can, try to spend 15 minutes with your body touching the earth.  An easy way to do this is to place your bare feet on grass, sand, dirt, or a grounding mat.

This helps you find your inner peace and calm by reducing stress and tension, activating the relaxation response, regulating physiological functions, and even decreasing pain responses.

MEDITATION

Meditation has been shown to relieve stress and can help you feel more centered and calm.  You don’t need a lot of time each day to do it.  In fact, just 5 minutes a day can help you find your inner peace and calm.

Be sure you’re in a comfortable sitting position.  You can focus on an object with your eyes open.  Or close your eyes and focus on your breath or a mantra.  A mantra is a phrase you say aloud over and over or in your mind so you can focus.

Try this out for a few days, for 5 minutes and observe how you feel.  If you find yourself wondering if you’re doing it correctly, don’t worry.  You don’t need to be an expert at it to practice.  With meditation, being consistent is better than being perfect.

LETTING GO

Letting go of control might seem like you’re giving up.  It is really an act of surrendering to a higher power and releasing the burden off your shoulders.

One of the ways I like to let go is through prayer.  Prayers have a way of bringing positive intention and energy into my psyche.  Whatever your belief, you can always pray to God, a Higher power or the Universe.

Another way is to accept where you are right now and just let it go.  I find that when you tell yourself you should be something or you should be somewhere else instead of where you are right now, you can stir up negative emotions like guilt, resentment, and anger.

Letting go can bring you peace and calm because you allow yourself to release the internal tension that may cause unpleasant feelings.  It also frees you from being in control and the false belief that you should be anywhere else but where you are right now.

I know it can be difficult to accept where you are right now, but sometimes you need to shift from the driver to the passenger seat to find your inner peace and calm.

GRATITUDE

Being grateful can help you find your inner peace and calm every day.  When you say thanks for just one thing each day, you can feel more abundance in your life.  You start to notice all the little things that might have escaped your attention before.

When I wrote in a gratitude journal for 30 days, I felt more abundance and joy, even in the littlest things.  I also appreciated tasks that were mundane and seemingly insignificant, discovered so much inspiration around me, felt humbled with what I already had, and realized what was most important to me in life.

CANNABIS

What was once illicit is now mainstream.  Cannabis has grown into a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States.  Cannabis can also be very expensive.  You can find many versions of this product in a multitude of places.  It is sold as candy, lotion, and oil, to name a few.

If you’re feeling particularly stressed out or anxious, this wonderful herb can help you to relieve it.  In addition to anxiety and stress, cannabis has been shown to help relieve other ailments such as pain and depression.

Before you try it, be sure to consult with your physician and an expert so you can start at a dose that is right for you.  There are different tinctures and strengths available in the market, so be sure you do thorough research before you consider using this.

WALKING

Walking can be beneficial if you’re feeling extra stressed and can’t seem to calm down.  It helps by reducing your anxiety level so that is more manageable.  You might even be able to calm yourself down completely just by walking.

If you can, find some time in your day to walk outdoors for at least 10 minutes.  You can do this on your lunch break, by parking your car further from your destination, or even inside your home.  Walking every day is not only good for maintaining healthy muscles and bones, it also helps you find your inner peace and calm every day.

PLAY

Playing seems like something only kids should be doing, but adults can play too.  Do you have a hobby that you enjoy?  Or think back to when you were a kid.  What did you enjoy doing?  Would you do it right now?

If you can’t think of anything, you can play with your kids.  Children love to play.  They can do it spontaneously and they always look like they’re having fun.

Play can help reignite any passion or creativity that is hiding inside of you.  Best of all, it doesn’t have to be perfect and you’re spending time doing something you enjoy.  When you’re enjoying yourself, you can find your inner peace and calm much easier.

Remember, it doesn’t take much to find your inner peace and calm.  Just a little practice each day is all you need.  It can be as simple as playing, walking, letting go, being grateful, meditating, and grounding yourself.  I hope you found these tips helpful.  Please let me know what you think in the comments.