Ways to Keep Calm Even in the Most Stressful Situations

Lisa Franchi January 27, 2016

We all encounter stressful situations in our life. Whether at the workplace, at home, in school or even in our commute, stressful moments are inevitable. And it is normal to feel anxious and overwhelmed in times like these. But if you allow yourself to get carried away with all sorts of stressors, you might unfortunately be compromising your physical and emotional health.

The good news is that it is possible to stay calm amidst stressful moments. By learning strategies to calm your mind and body, you place yourself in a better position to take control of the situation and turn it into a positive experience.

Below are great tips you can try:

Remain positive. No matter how bad the situation may seem, the best thing you can do is to keep an optimistic mind. It is difficult at first but once you train your mind to practise optimism, you will find it easier to deal with not-so-good situations. Instead of focusing on how bad it is, shift your attention to the lessons that each stressful situation brings. Take each mistake as opportunities for improvement and growth. Be confident in your ability to overcome all challenges that lie ahead.

Identify the culprit. It is important that you know what your usual stressors are. Being able to identify your enemy allows you to figure out what its weaknesses are, and which of your strengths can be used to defy it. It also makes you realise that some things are not that scary at all once you get to understand what they really are.

Plan. So there’s really a bad situation going on there. Your sales has gone tremendously down. You just got fired by your boss. Your boyfriend/girlfriend left you. In situations like this, it is important that you learn to plan and strategize instead of wasting all your time worrying. Determine what steps you should be undertaking and how you are going to apply them. Nothing makes you calmer than knowing your options after each downfall.

Ask for help. When things seem to be getting out of control and you feel like you can’t do it alone anymore, know that help is available. Seek help from people in your network, particularly your friends and family. More often than not, they are happy to help you in any way they can. If you can’t confide to the people close to you, see a professional therapist. Counselling is a great venue to tackle your personal issues and devise ways to address them, including the day-to-day stressors that give you so much burden.

Step back. Some problems are not resolved overnight. Take time to step back from the situation, reorient your thoughts, and think more clearly. Unwind. Take a break. Relax. Declutter your mind. It is easier to deal with stressful situations this way. What’s more, you are more effective in managing your stress levels once you have taken time to rejuvenate.

Laugh. They say laughter’s the best medicine. When you have too much on your plate and things become so overwhelming, before you proceed with your next step, smile a little. Laugh. Keep things light. When you have a positive perspective, everything falls into their rightful place.