These days, it seems that overwhelmed is the only feeling I know. There is just so much going on all on fronts that I have to admit sometimes, I do not know how to handle everything on my plate. I won’t go into the details, but suffice it to say that I feel like a person who has been cast adrift for what seems like an eternity.
You probably feel the same way — we are all in the same boat in a sense.
There are “okay” moments, sure; however, there seem to be more times when a whole slew of emotions wash over me, wave after wave after wave. During those times, I have to do something to calm myself down, or else I think I would go insane. Quite literally.
I don’t doubt that many of you have those overwhelming moments, and if you need a break, here are some quick ways to calm yourself down so you can regroup and refocus.
Take a walk.
It may be cliche, but taking a walk will calm you down very quickly. The reasoning behind this is simple. Taking a walk will burn off the negative energy that threatens to consume. If you have a nice place to walk around in, then the surroundings will also help you let go of the negative feelings.
Taking a walk allows you to expend the rage – or whatever negative emotion – you are feeling, and you will then be able to think more clearly.
Do some gardening.
Disclaimer: I do not have a green thumb, and it seems I just never will have one; still, we have a small garden on our tiny balcony, and I have to tell you that just being among the greenery and flowers helps calm me down rather quickly. There is just something about nature that helps you realize that there is still something good in this world. If you have a yard, then just stay out there till you feel better. You don’t even have to get your hands dirty if you don’t want to, but you should give it a try.
Write.
You don’t have to be a writer to take advantage of writing. Some people write for a living and have to constantly improve themselves by writing professionally and staying on top of resources for writers, but even if you don’t consider yourself a writer, you can still sit down with a journal and a pen and write your overwhelming out.
Write exactly how you feel and why you feel that way. Don’t hold anything back. Write what you want to say but have always been afraid to. Just write.
If you’re afraid that someone might read it – burn the piece (or pieces) of paper and throw it away!
Breathe.
You hear, read, and see this “tip” every day. There is a reason for that — it works.
For me, I need to disconnect, even if for just a minute or two. I do that by closing the lid of my laptop and simply sitting on my chair without doing anything but observing my breathing. I count 1-4 as I breathe in, hold my breath, and then count 1-4 as I breathe out.
It really is as simple as that. I am still amazed at how well it works!
We all deal with overwhelming emotions differently, but these activities can help you restore balance rather quickly.
How about you? What’s your go-to calming activity?
First published in 2013; updated March 2022
