Staying Calm, Cool, and Collected When Stressed

By Donna Stark

Staying calm, when calm is the last thing you feel like being, is one of the hardest things to do, isn't it? And the difficulty of doing so can unfortunately be exacerbated if you are already struggling with your finances, relationships, or work. It can also be a punch in the stomach if you see others around you being able to achieve that sense of calmness when you can't. So what can you do? What do the others do? Let's take a look at some simple strategies on how to stay cool, calm, and collected during those times of high stress and anxiety in your life.

Avoid Social Media

It doesn't matter if it's the internet, news feeds, or social media accounts, if the majority of what you are looking at is filled with things that add more stress to your days, you need to take a step back. It's important to understand what you are filling your mind with and to avoid the things that negatively affect your mental well-being. 

Prioritize Your Health

Typically, when our lives are consumed with stressful situations, we tend to fall back on our old, unhealthy habits. We eat that gallon of ice cream, we stay up late, and we make one excuse after the next to skip our daily workouts. Maybe for a day or two, that type of behavior is OK, but it is not going to add any benefit to your life if those habits continue for the long haul. Now, more than ever, you need to focus on eating a healthy diet, getting adequate sleep, and fitting in some kind of movement during your days! It's also a good time to focus on your mental and emotional health too! So start a new hobby, call a loved one, or take the time to write about what you are going through in a journal.

Be Prepared

Your parents taught you this lesson when you were a young child. Be as prepared as you can for those tough times in life. Having an emergency fund, a few backup babysitters, friends you can count on, a car that runs  these are the things that will get you through some of the hardest times in your life. When you are prepared and have these things set in place to fall back on, the bad situation you are going through won't seem so bad after all.

Life's Challenges

You can count on life throwing challenges and setbacks your way, but no matter how hard they may be to navigate, there is always an opportunity to survive. By following the tips above, you can successfully maintain a calm, cool, and collected attitude during tough situations ... and that is what will be needed the most!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in La Verne, Calif.