Calm before the storm

In the moments before a change or challenge, there’s often a certain stillness in the air - a calm before the storm.

This quiet time can bring a sense of peace, yet it can also mixture feelings of panic as we brace for what’s to come. While it’s natural to feel anxious in the face of uncertainty, there are effective ways to calm those nerves and reclaim your inner peace.

If you feel nervous or anxious during this time of uncertainty, you’re not alone. Here are some tips to guide you through:

How to calm your nerves

Take deep breaths - breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 7 seconds, and exhale for 8 seconds. Repeat this a few times if you are able.

Chewing gum - this may seem like a really simple one; however, studies show that chewing gum keeps blood flowing to the brain, helping you concentrate better.

Smelling Lavender - lighting a scented lavender candle or using lavender bath salts can help relieve stress and nerves.

Exercise your mind and spirit - practice yoga, write in your journal or get a massage. These different things will help exercise your mind, body and spirit and help your mind and body feel calm and relaxed.

Take your mind off things - when you're feeling nervous it’s easy to focus on the thing that is making you feel nervous because it is most likely all you can think about. But this could be a good time to try out something new or get creative! You could try scrapbooking, painting, journaling and a variety of other activities to help get your mind off things.

It can be challenging to keep the negatives from overshadowing the positives, but remember that storms will always pass, just like those negative thoughts. If you need further guidance on ways to help calm your mind and body before those thoughts take over, consider this guide to 6 Ways To Calm Yourself Down from the Cleveland Clinic.

By practicing these techniques, you may find yourself being able to control and manage your nerves and see the situation in a more positive perspective. Sometimes when we get nervous we create these negative thoughts putting ourselves down, therefore putting our focus on something else can help keep us distracted and ensure that we can succeed and understand how to work best around any anxiety.