Life has its ups and downs. It ebbs and flows. In an ideal world, you would go through life without hardships or challenges, but the real world isn’t like that. Perhaps you’re struggling to cope with the recent inflation eroding your purchasing power, and making ends meet has become more difficult than ever, unsettling you. Or maybe you find yourself in a deep, dark abyss after losing a loved one. Such experiences are part of life.
Unfortunately, every setback affects your emotional and mental psyche, no matter how hard you try to be resilient. It’s important to remember that no one is invulnerable to such emotions and feelings, only that some people already have the tools to manage them better without significantly affecting them.
If you feel angry, anxious, overwhelmed, depressed, guilty, or hopeless after a setback, you’re not alone. Such feelings are normal and help you grow as a person, allowing you to recognize that you can overcome adversity with the right mindset and tools.
Staying calm during difficult times is something many people struggle with because it’s easier said than done. But it’s a goal you can work toward and accomplish. Everyone has different coping mechanisms to help them stay calm during such times. For instance, some people might seek psychic readings after losing a loved one to help them seek clarity and peace of mind. It may also help you prepare for your future with newfound inspiration and validation of your previous decisions. Meanwhile, others might prefer to turn to a creative endeavor, such as painting or journaling, to help them process their emotions.
Nevertheless, learning how to stay calm during challenging periods in your life is a skill worth learning because it’ll allow you to move forward in such situations logically without letting emotions cloud your judgment.
Tips to Help You Stay Calm During Difficult Times
Here are some tips to help you stay calm during difficult times:
- Try Breathing Exercises
Feeling overwhelmed or anxious is common, especially when things don’t turn out as anticipated. Instead of succumbing to these feelings, try to control your emotions and be as rational as possible because it’ll help you navigate the challenges ahead.
Try some breathing exercises to help you maintain clarity and control over your emotions. Feeling panicked or anxious can often reduce oxygen in the brain. Research shows that heightened anxiety symptoms usually occur because of low blood oxygen levels in the brain’s prefrontal cortical areas.
Breathing exercises can help you regulate oxygen levels in the brain while relaxing your muscles. In addition, these exercises are crucial because you can perform them anywhere, whether at work, at home, or while driving.
- Go for a Walk
Physical exercise can also be extremely beneficial when feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed during challenging times. According to research, walking releases endorphins, stimulating relaxation and improving mood. As a result, walking for even twenty minutes can help you feel calmer and less anxious when confronted by a tough situation.
Furthermore, walking has other benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease and helping you lose weight.
- Remember the Positives
Looking at things from a different perspective can help you feel calmer during challenging times. For instance, let’s assume you’re feeling down on your luck because you were recently laid off from your job. Instead of considering yourself unemployed, think about all the opportunities you have at your disposal.
For instance, you could start a business you always dreamed about but didn’t have time to focus on because you were too busy with work. Alternatively, you could use this free time to go on vacation with your spouse or create memories with your loved ones.
- Meditate
You might want to try meditating if you constantly feel stressed or anxious. It has many benefits, including alleviating anxiety, boosting immune function, and slowing mental aging. Meditation also encourages you to focus on the present instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
Meditating requires consistent practice. So, don’t feel frustrated if your first time meditating doesn’t provide the desired results.
- Don’t Discount Your Inner Strength
Setbacks happen in life, but they don’t define you. For instance, getting laid off doesn’t invalidate your previous accomplishments at your workplace. It’s important to remember that difficult times don’t last forever. Obstacles are necessary to help you unearth your inner strength because they teach you how to move forward in life. It’s all about facing adversity and conquering it.
- Rely on Your Support System
If you’re struggling to cope with the difficult times life has thrust upon you, consider sharing your feelings with someone you trust. They might not necessarily have an answer to help you feel better. However, having someone you can share your emotions with might unburden you.
Moreover, a support system is also beneficial for other reasons. Sometimes, things seem worse in your mind than they are in actuality. Sharing your emotions with friends, mentors, or family members allows you to get a different perspective from someone you trust and respect, which could help you realize that you’re not in as bad a predicament as you thought.
- Try a Creative Hobby to Express Yourself
One of the worst things you can do when feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or grieving is to keep those emotions bottled up. Some people often don’t feel comfortable talking about their emotions and feelings with their friends and relatives. It’s okay if you’re not ready to share how you feel with the world. However, you still need a healthy way to let out your emotions.
Pursuing a creative hobby can help you express your emotions without necessarily sharing them with anyone. For instance, you might fancy yourself as a wordsmith and try your hand at poetry. Other creative pursuits that can help you channel your emotions and healthily express them include making music, painting, journaling, etc.
- Seek Professional Help
If you’re still struggling with anxiety, grief, or other similar emotions, you might want to consider seeking professional help. A certified professional can guide you through such times by providing you with the tools and mindset to overcome negative emotions. They’ll also work with you to identify the root causes of your fears and how to overcome them.
Conclusion
Life thrusts challenging times upon everyone. Learning how to deal with these obstacles healthily is necessary for growth. If you feel you’re in a negative headspace because everything around you isn’t going to plan, try meditation and breathing experiences. In addition, don’t shy away from relying on your friends and family members for support. Staying calm during difficult situations is difficult but not impossible.
