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Stress and anxiety are inevitable; life is usually full of chaos, responsibility, and turmoil that can make it hard to find peace.
But although it can sometimes seem elusive, quieting your mind is an essential part of achieving balance in life.
Taking a few moments each day to still the noise not only brings clarity and inner calm, but helps develop resilience that will encourage you along difficult paths.
Fortunately, there are many powerful methods for finding serenity, even in chaotic times!
It’s time to learn 17 simple strategies for calming your mind so you can rest easier while managing the challenges of today’s world.
#1. Get Physical
Whether it is going for a walk, lifting weights, or anything in between, being physical has a massive impact on your mental health.
The dopamine rush you get from exercise will melt away stress and allow you to think more clearly to solve any issue you face.
#2. Celebrate Small Wins
You won’t be a prof at mindfulness from the start.
It takes practice.
The key is that you acknowledge and celebrate the progress you made as you take the journey.
#3. Practice Patience
Realize that the remarkable benefits that mindfulness can provide in your life doesn’t happen overnight.
Mindfulness affects people differently where some find it easy to apply and others struggle with mindfulness.
You need to be patient, both with yourself and mindfulness as a whole.
Mindfulness requires you to look within, which isn’t easy for some as it can require vulnerability and honesty on your end.
#4. Use Mindfulness Apps
If you are on the techie side, there are smartphone apps out there that will help you complete a mediation session.
Not only will these apps help you with calming your mind down, but they will also help you to pay attention to your body language.
This can have a big impact on what you get out of session.
Some of the best smartphone apps for beginner mindfulness include the following:
- Insight Timer
- Smiling Mind
- Stop, Breathe, and Think
- 10% Happier
- Calm
- Headspace
The idea of using an app is that it can be a motivating factor for some people to be intentional with their practice.
#5. Keep a Daily Journal
Journaling is great for keeping both your emotions and thoughts in check.
Most importantly, it helps you become grounded with living in the present moment.
Whenever you write your thoughts down, you’re being self aware with everything you feel.
It also allows you to get thoughts out of your brain so you can focus more of your energy on being present.
It’s a great way to practice mindfulness every day, even through a simple writing practice like journaling.
Write down precise details of your life as if you’re observing it, and write down those details on your journal.
#6. Be Present More
This is easier said than done given our tendency to use distractions to escape the current reality of daily life.
We try so hard to run from the present, but we tend to dwell on the past or future.
If you want to practice mindfulness, you need practice being present more in your life.
Otherwise, it’s easy to miss a moment until you realize that moment has already passed.
#7. Notice When You’re Spacing Out
There are so many times in your day when it’s easy to zone out, whether we’re in work or even when scrolling through our phones.
Mindfulness is all about being in the present moment.
So when you find you’re zoning out, let yourself go back to being present and acknowledge whatever is going on both in your mind and body.
The same goes for mindfulness meditation practices.
Always come back to being present when you’re zoning out in your mind.
#8. Make Mindfulness a Priority
When incorporating mindfulness into your daily life, you should make it a priority and find ways to practice mindfulness such as meditation.
Mindfulness is more challenging than it sounds, especially as we live in a very distracted world where we find it hard to sit still in our thoughts without dwelling in them.
By completing even a daily meditation practice, you can make mindfulness a priority and without realizing it, you’re incorporating it into your way of life.
#9. Find a Quiet Place
When doing mindfulness practices, meditation, or if you just want that break from everything, finding a quiet place is crucial.
This is where you can peacefully sit in your thoughts without any interruptions or distractions.
This is the place where you can practice calming down your busy mind without the fear of being judged or criticized for your actions.
You can also practice your meditations here as well, without the worry of being interrupted.
#10. Slow Down
In a world that romanticizes the busy life, you need to practice slowing down if you want to incorporate mindfulness in your life.
Not everything in life is meant to be rushed.
Instead of always looking forward to the next deadline, next goal, or next relationship, slow down and appreciate that pace in your life.
This is also how you become more present instead of always anticipating the next thing.
Even slowing down for 10 minutes in your busy schedule can do wonders for your life.
For me, I like to take a walk first thing in the morning.
It’s quiet and there are very little distractions.
As a result, I can focus on my breath and enjoy the little things life has to offer.
And by doing it first thing in the morning, it puts me in the right mind set for the rest of the day.
#11. Stop Worrying Whether You’re Doing It Right
As long as you’re practicing mindfulness in simple ways each day, you don’t have to worry about getting it right or wrong.
Practice makes perfect and as long as you’re doing your best in these mindfulness practices like meditation, you’re doing the right thing.
The time you spend worrying is time you can spend being mindful instead.
#12. Talk with Friends
It may sound odd for a mindfulness tip to be about talking with friends, but the benefits you get from healthy relationships can help you to be more centered.
Not only will you be happier, but this happiness will allow you to slow down and be more present other times in life.
#13. Take Advantage of Guided Meditations
There are two forms of meditations, which are guided and unguided meditations.
It can be overwhelming for beginners to begin meditation as you don’t where to begin or how to get through the entire routine.
With a guided meditation, you’ll be guided through the entire time so you don’t have to worry about what you’re supposed to do.
Guided meditations also come in different forms such as podcasts and videos.
#14. Practice Having Relaxed Attention
When dealing with specific negative emotions such as anxiety, boredom, grief, or stress, it’s easy to dwell on these because we give it our focused attention.
By practicing relaxed attention as if you’re watching an outsider of your environment, it gives you more control over your emotions rather than the other way around.
This kind of approach towards mindfulness can help you have a calmer approach to your negative emotions and diffuse them entirely.
#15. Separate Your Identity From Your Self Worth
Whether you plan on using mindfulness along with meditation or individually, you have to recognize that you’re not your thoughts.
Even your darkness and most negative thoughts are not a reflection of who you are.
It’s incredibly easy to dwell in the negativity of life which is why your thoughts may be comprised of that negativity.
But to practice mindfulness in your life, you need to separate your identity from your thoughts.
Simply sit your thoughts and observe them without judgment.
Only by having that kind of self awareness can you let your thoughts go.
#16. Remember, You Are Your Biggest Critic
Don’t let your inner voice become the face of self-doubt; remember not to let your inner voice become a hindrance.
Instead, adopt a practice of self-kindness and consciously seek out the positives in every situation you encounter.
By nurturing a compassionate mindset and embracing a positive outlook, you can navigate life’s challenges with resilience and grace.
#17. Spend Time In Nature
Being surrounded by nature has been proven to reduce stress and anxiety levels.
So take some time each day to be outside and absorb the beauty that exists in your own backyard.
Take a walk or sit in the park. Listen to the birds sing, and admire the clouds and trees, as it will help you to restore your internal balance and perspective.
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Jon Dulin is the passionate leader of Unfinished Success, a personal development website that inspires people to take control of their own lives and reach their full potential. His commitment to helping others achieve greatness shines through in everything he does. He’s an unstoppable force with lots of wisdom, creativity, and enthusiasm – all focused on helping others build a better future. Jon enjoys writing articles about productivity, goal setting, self-development, and mindset. He also uses quotes and affirmations to help motivate and inspire himself. You can learn more about him on his About page.