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Grace Cheng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

We live in a world full of challenges, but what happens when one encounters a situation in which there is no way out? As humans, we are often faced with difficult events in life, and it is crucial to know how to handle them. In such circumstances, it is extremely important to remain calm and hopeful. While stress is a normal part of modern life, if you frequently find yourself in situations that are stressful and feel panicked or overwhelmed, you may benefit from learning some coping strategies.  

 

There is no need to avoid all forms of stress when cultivating calm. When we take time to breathe, connect and care, we may find that some of the negative feelings we have been running from will become apparent. The key is to practice self-compassion at that time; feeling bad is okay. Having resilience does not mean that we will always be happy, but that we will have the energy, the attitude, and the support to help us cope with a life’s challenges.

 

The following ten tips will help you stay calm during life’s most challenging moments.

 

1. Mediation

 

It has been proven that meditation reduces stress. It also changes the brain over time, allowing you to control your emotions more effectively and stay calm when you need it most. Meditation regularly can thus assist you in better handling stressful moments in the long run. 

 

1. Taking a Deep Breath

 

Deep breathing is an effective method of calming yourself down. Whenever you feel that your brain has reached a deadlock state, you should breathe properly and make sure your body is getting adequate oxygen. Close your eyes and take some time to relax. By doing so, you will be able to deal with the situation more effectively.

 

1. Positive Thinking

 

Believe it or not, if you are filled with negative thoughts, you will be unable to deal with any situation. Negative thoughts and unnecessary fears may cause you to feel extremely restless and exhausted. To overcome difficult times, you must maintain a positive attitude. By telling yourself that you are capable of doing a particular task, rather than thinking that you will not be able to accomplish it, you will be more likely to succeed. By remaining positive, your brain can avoid stress and remain calm.

 

1. Slowing Down

 

In bad situations, try not to react immediately if at all possible. Allow yourself some time to gather and analyze as much information as possible regarding the situation at hand. To avoid confusion, it is important to provide accurate data. A clear vision can only be achieved with the right information.

 

1. Receiving Help from Others

 

There is nothing wrong with seeking assistance from others. The best thing that you can do if you are deeply stuck in a problem is to ask people for help. If you are unable to resolve a problem calmly, your loved ones will ensure that you will not face the problem for a long time. During rough times, you can always rely on your friends and family for support.

 

1. Exercise

 

When it comes to managing stress and dealing with external pressure, exercise is just as important as sleep. Exercise causes your body to release feel-good hormones and helps you to clear your mind.  

 

1. Sleep

 

When you have not had a good night’s sleep, everything seems to be worse. You can often end up in a vicious cycle due to stress and anxiety from not being able to sleep and then feeling worse. Prioritize your sleep, especially if you are under a lot of pressure.

 

1. Being Grateful

 

You can maintain a positive attitude by remaining grateful for everything you have in your life, no matter how small. It has been shown that people who keep a gratitude journal daily have lower levels of cortisol which is the hormone responsible for stress. You may find it helpful to take a few moments at the end of each day to write down a few things you are grateful for and see how much better you feel as a result.

 

1. Finding Solutions

 

To solve complicated situations, it is also helpful to get to the root of the problem and solve it first. After finding the root cause, you will have a much better understanding of the steps taken to reach that point.  

 

1. Writing Emotion Journals

 

During tough moments, releasing emotions can help you remain calm. Oftentimes, when life throws you an overwhelming challenge, you may feel angry, helpless, afraid, sad, or ashamed. The storage of emotions leads to feelings of panic and a feeling of being out of control when they are bottled up. Understanding how to honor your emotions will also assist you in understanding more effective coping methods.

 

You can take control of your destiny today by being calm and developing inner peace.

 

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Grace has an accounting and finance background. She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, watching movies and playing sports.