Best Ways To Relax And Calm The Mind

I take long, deep breaths. Inhale to the count of four, hold for the count of four, exhale to the count of eight. This is really hard and feels like I am not doing it right, like it won’t work, but it does and it gets easier. One breath at a time.

I talk to myself, replacing my critical inner thoughts with supportive ones. It’s ok. Everything you are feeling is ok. You are right to feel the way you do. We will work through this, one step at a time. I’ve got you.

Move. A run, a walk, a full body stretch, a swim. Moving helps so much. If while I move I take deep, slow breaths, even better.

Change my mental “movie”. Instead of living inside my thoughts.

Take a shower or a bath. I add experiences for all my senses. A candle-lit or low lit bathroom, a delicious smelling soap, good, scrubby gloves.

Write. On a notebook, or on a computer. I write out everything I am feeling. I don’t try to write well, or make sense of it, or fix it. I just write.

Do anything creative. For me it’s writing but you can sing, paint, dance, draw, make a collage, work on a puzzle. Working on a puzzle is really good for your brain because you show her that things can be put back together, one piece at a time.