Not sure how to stay calm in the face of chaos? Here are 11 simple ways to protect your peace no matter what’s going on in life and keep your mental space free from worries.
As a kid, whenever I heard the word ‘peace’, I’d envision a yogi sitting atop a mountain, deep in meditation with his eyes closed.
It’s funny now that you think about it, but my idea of peace wasn’t that far off from what it actually is.
Peace, at its core, is the ability to stay still even when things around you are running haywire.
Replace the yogi with a working mom or a medical student (or better yet, yourself), and imagine them breezing through life without anything fazing them.
This is what peace looks like in modern times.
It’s beautiful, powerful, and amazing in its entirety, and contrary to popular belief, not that hard to attain.
You might have felt it while curled up with a good book on a Sunday afternoon, or during a quiet moment of connection with a loved one.
You might have felt like it while watching the sunset at a scenic spot, or while taking the first sip of your coffee on a rainy morning.
Imagine being able to carry this feeling with you forever.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could walk through the troublesome points of life without letting anything get to you?
In this post, you’ll find 11 realistic practices to protect your peace and keep your cool no matter what’s going on in your life.
If you’re ready to make peaceful your default mode, then read on.
How To Protect Your Inner Peace
1. Spend The First Thirty Minutes Of Your Morning On Yourself
It’s hard to retain peace if your morning starts with speed and hustle.
Productivity is great, but it doesn’t have to be the starting point of your day.
After waking up, spend at least thirty minutes with yourself in solitude.
If you have to push your wake-up time earlier for this, then do it.
Make yourself a nice cup of coffee, do some journaling, do your skincare routine, or step outside for some fresh air.
You can create a fixed morning routine that you repeat every day, or go with the flow and pick your morning rituals depending on your mood.
Start your morning with peace, and you shall carry it with you for the rest of the day.
Must read: 8 Slow Morning Routine Ideas To Wake Yourself With Love
2. Know Your Triggers
We all have things that push our buttons. Maybe it’s a certain coworker, rush hour traffic, or negative social media.
Think of all such situations that trigger you, and write them down somewhere (seriously, do it).
Whenever you find yourself getting disturbed by something in the future, add it to the list.
Once you know what disrupts your calm, you can develop coping mechanisms to avoid or navigate those situations effectively.
There is also immense power in self-awareness. The more aware you are of your trigger points, the more mindful you will be while facing them.
3. Ditch the Drama, Not the People
Let’s face it, some people are just energy vampires. They constantly complain, gossip, or drag you down with their negativity.
After being exposed to such negativity, it can be tempting to withdraw from every person in your life, but that is not a sustainable way to build peace.
Instead of ditching people, learn to ditch the drama.
If you don’t have the option to cut ties with someone, then just limit your exposure to them.
Excuse yourself from conversations that drain you, and focus on nurturing relationships that uplift and inspire you.
This way, you’ll attract positivity in your life through positive connections, and keep the negativity at bay.
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4. Carry Self-Care With You
It’s easier to stay calm when you are in one place.
But the moment you have to move (be it going to the office every day or while traveling), you might find your peace going poof.
This is where self-care comes in.
Generally, the idea of self-care is to indulge in soothing practices at home after a tiring day out.
But one thing I’ve learned this past month is that you can actually carry this habit with you.
I’ve been moving here and there like a stray comet while my new apartment gets ready, and my patience would’ve run out a long time ago if I hadn’t been consistent with my self-care rituals.
No matter where you are in the world, you can practice self-care whenever you wish to, if you carry the necessary items with you.
It could be a notebook to write your thoughts in or an affirmations deck that helps you bloom.
You could carry a jade roller, your favorite book, a mini-scented candle, and an apple in your purse.
My self-care package always contains a cute water bottle, my journal, some dry fruits, and a self-help book to keep my positivity channels running.
5. Recharge Your Energy Through Nature
The true essence of serenity and peace lies in nature, and we are blessed enough to have an abundance of natural elements around us.
Whenever you find yourself in need of stability and replenishment, seek nature’s company.
Take walks in the woods, spend time in your local park, or just stand under the big blue sky and close your eyes.
Feel the sunshine recharging your spirit, and let yourself connect to the beauty that lies in the greenery.
This kind of energy will be a hundred times more rejuvenating than your Netflix binge-hours, I promise.
6. Use A Daily Planner To Stay Sorted
Nothing disrupts the peace of mind quite like an unexpected change in routine.
Try as you might, you can’t be in control of every aspect of your life, and that’s just fine.
Life would be pretty boring if all your days were similar and nothing new ever happened.
But if you want to embrace every single change with open arms, you need some semblance of control over your routine.
A daily planner is your BFF for that.
Whether you’re on vacation or gearing up for a big presentation at work, planning your day in a planner can help you take charge of your day and adapt yourself accordingly.
To-do lists, scheduling, meal-planning, and setting priorities — all these tiny steps can prove to be monumental in keeping your head sorted.
There are many valid reasons to not be at peace with yourself, but how to spend your time shouldn’t be one of them.
7. Embrace the Power of “Off”
In our constantly connected world, it’s easy to feel pressured to be available 24/7.
But if you’re always glued to your phone for others, then is there any meaningful time left yourself?
Constant stimulation is never ever good for your mind.
So, please, for the sake of all things peace and quiet, learn to embrace the power of ‘off’.
Schedule your downtime, just like you would an important meeting or your grocery shopping.
It can be during the morning, before bed, or when you’re out for your evening walk.
Savor the peace that comes from disconnecting from your phone and computer, and use this time to connect with the authentic you.
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8. Find Your Happy Place
We all have activities that bring us joy and a sense of calm.
For me, it’s playing with my dog, reading a good book curled in bed, and creating art in my journal.
For you, it might be a movie night with your bestie, cooking for yourself, or soaking in a warm bubbly bath.
I could go on with these examples, but I’m sure you already know what your happy activities are.
But the question is — do you indulge in them often enough? Or is guilt stopping you from giving yourself joy?
When you engage in things you love, you actively nourish your mental space. It’s not a feeling that needs to be saved for special occasions.
So, do those things that you love.
Do them every day and stop giving yourself reasons as to why you shouldn’t. Your happy place is yours to nurture and yours to claim.
The more you step into it, the more it’ll grow, and the easier it’ll be for you to find peace.
9. Let Go, Please
Think of all the times when you’ve seethed with fury or lost sleep thinking about people who’ve wronged you.
Were those nights of anger and sorrow worth anything?
Yes, you should make lessons out of such situations, but holding onto grudges is as toxic as anything can get.
Resentment and past hurt only weigh you down and disrupt your peace of mind. Practice forgiveness and let go of negativity.
Instead of being someone who holds on, set an intention to be someone who lets go.
It is the first step toward freeing yourself from emotional baggage and moving forward with lightness and clarity.
Related post: 10 Things To Let Go Of To Be Happy In Life
10. Become BFFs With Mindfulness and Meditation
Mindfulness practices like meditation and deep breathing exercises are powerful tools for managing stress.
But people hardly ever do any of these things. You must have thought about starting meditation many times but never actually gotten started.
Let this article be the final nudge you need to get moving. Build a habit of meditating and practicing mindfulness and stick with it for life.
Give just 10 minutes of your day to focus on your breaths and bring your awareness to the present.
The more you practice breathwork, the easier you’ll find to ditch your intrusive thoughts and cultivate calmness.
There are many free guided meditations available online or in apps to help you get started.
My recommendations are ‘The Great Meditation’ on YouTube and the app ‘Calm’.
11. Let Yourself And Others Be
Ever lost your cool trying to correct other people’s actions?
I certainly have, which is why I know it’s a fruitless endeavor that doesn’t get you anywhere.
You can’t change people or get them to do according to your will.
Other people’s misbehavior or bad habits are not yours to correct. And sometimes, what you think is right could be really wrong for someone else.
People are living life according to their choice; it’s their right to do so, and to interfere in their matters is only asking for mental troubles.
So, let others and yourself just be.
Help out, and give advice when needed, but other than that, focus on your own kingdom and sustaining its peace.
Make Peace Your Default State Of Being
There will be days when the world feels louder, and your carefully constructed calm wavers.
But see these moments as opportunities to practice the tools you’ve learned here.
Be patient with yourself, celebrate your progress, and savor the quiet moments of peace that come with a life less cluttered and a heart more centered.
After all, a peaceful you is a more resilient you, better equipped to handle whatever life throws your way.
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