Being calm. Being still.
Phones are ringing. Texts are coming through. Notification bells are sounding. Emails are piling up. You finally place your phone on do not disturb. A quiet, tranquil atmosphere transforms your space. You close your eyes and take some deep breaths. Then, after those few peaceful moments, you think “Did I pay that bill? Did I book that appointment? What am I cooking for dinner?” And, we are back at square one.
So, how do we find calm and stillness in the week? Answer: I am trying to figure that out every single day.
Here are some ways I am trying to find stillness in the day:
Stretching to your favorite playlist
Sometimes, we are always looking for the next task. But doing so, our body and mind is always on the go. In the meantime, stress could accumulate and our muscles begin to grow tense. Then, once we sit down or go to bed, we can’t get comfortable or relax at all. And, now we are stressed about not being able to relax. Great. So, how do we get our body some relief? Stretching.
Whether it is stretching upper body, lower body or full body stretch, it is good to get your body moving. Stretching will allow your muscles for extension and relief of tension. So, cue that playlist to motivate you to stretch in your day and throughout your week. When your body is relaxed, it can allow for your mind to relax.
Mindful meditation
Meditation is a practice that utilizes mindfulness to slow down your thoughts and focuses on calming your mind and body. It can be a bit tricky at times, especially when you have a million things going on at once. It is hard to quiet your mind. For me, instead of conducting my own meditation, I will type in “Daily Calm” on YouTube for a 10 minute guided meditation. There are two great things about this feature. This guided meditation helps you pause and direct your focus on being calm. And the second great thing about it is that it is free.
Scheduled quiet time
Find a time in the day just for you. It could be just 15 to 20 minutes. In these 15 to 20 minutes, you could have two options. Option one: doing nothing. Yes, I wrote nothing. So, grab your water, tea or coffee and soak in the quiet or calming background music. Or option two: talking a nice stroll through the great outdoors. No phone calls, no texts, and no checking social media. This time is for you and you alone. This allows for your body and mind to slow down. In order to be energized, we need to be charged.
Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy maybe for you or it may not. Remember, this is up to you. For me, aromatherapy can help transform my space. Right now, I use a lemon ginger essential oil in my diffuser. The smell is citrus and not too sweet. It creates a calming and comforting atmosphere for me. Other calming scents could be lavender or eucalyptus. Find the aroma that is the right fit for you.
In the comments down below, please feel free to share what you picked for calm & stillness this week.
I hope you have a lovely rest of the week! And don’t forget how awesome you are! 🤗