We all know the conventional ways to instill calm: meditate, go for a walk, listen to relaxing music, etc., but what about the uncommon ways to do it? Are there other ways, things we might not normally think about, choices we can apply in our every day lives?
Yes. Indeed. There are other ways, different ways, that you can use. Sometimes we must go beyond thinking outside the box, and have no box at all! For all of you who like to break the mold, here are some unconventional methods to instill calm in your life.
5 Ways To Instill Calm In Your Life
1. Put your Phone on Silent
Or even better, airplane mode. It is a big ask, so don’t worry if you need to take baby steps to get there. The point of this exercise is that a silent phone increases the chances of achieving a quiet mind. We’re all so distracted by our black screens that we forget to soak up the present moment — so give it a go!
2. Mindful Eating
If you are puzzled by this one, you are not alone. Most people like to scarf down their food the second it is in front of them — very primal of us. But every once and a while, it pays to eat slowly and take in every bite. Focus on the flavors as they marry, the textures, and the joy of being able to eat. That is called mindful eating!
3. Watch TV
Hold on, watching TV will instill calm?! Everyone says it is terrible for your mind? Well, we are talking about watching TV in healthy, moderate doses. That does not mean you should binge-watch TV every day, but when your mind needs a break, it is perfectly acceptable to put on an episode of your favorite show to relax.
4. Do Something Mundane
Most people do not get excited about mundane, menial tasks like doing the laundry or washing dishes, but it is great for the mind. You are probably used to a lot of thinking in that brain of yours, which means you are not giving it a lot of time to focus on something without being totally consumed by it. Try it out!
5. Use Art to Achieve Calm
You may not be a junior Picasso (or maybe you are!), but that does not mean you cannot use art to calm your mind. Go to a museum or stare at your favorite picture hanging on your wall. Art does an excellent job of calming people down and bringing them back to a grounded state.
So there you have it. 5 non-standard methods you can use (at least one every day) to bring calm, to instill calm, into your mind. Doing this will help with focus, make you more alert, and help you deal with the overwhelm that seems to creep in when we least expect it.
Calming our over-active minds seems more and more difficult as time goes own. Activities seem busier, interruptions come more often, the frenetic pace of life can be exhausting. We know we need to slow down and pace ourselves in order to avoid overwhelm and burnout. Applying these 5 approaches to a calm mind can help us move forward with all that surrounds us.
Simple enough, right? No matter what method (or methods) you choose to try out, make sure you are doing what feels best for your mind and body. To instill calm is a personal thing — finding calm should be a happy, worry-free journey. Good luck!
Mindfulness, gratitude, calmness, and dealing with overwhelm are all a part of Steve's signature program, Coaches' Self-Study Training Program™. To find out more, CLICK HERE.