In our fast-paced, stressful lives, keeping calm isn't always easy to do, but it's important if we want to perform our best in work, at school, and even at home. When we are calm, our decisions are clearer, our actions more deliberate, and our performance better. Though there are many ways to prevent stress, occasionally an unexpected situation will make us lose our cool. In this case, there are a few techniques to help regain a calm composure.
Take a Pause
If your work has got you on edge, stop for a moment. Take a minute or two to sit silently, or take a short walk. Close your eyes if it helps. Spending a short time to rest and clear your mind will help you regain your composure, instead of working in an inefficient, stressed-out state.
Take Deep Breaths
Deep breathing is an excellent way to keep your mind clear and focused when working on stressful tasks. The technique had been proven to lower your blood pressure in as few as 10 breaths. Place your hands on your abdomen and breathe slowly through your nose, feeling the air enter your body. Slowly release the air through your mouth. You will soon not only feel calm, but even refreshed.
Think a Calm Thought
A good technique to use in combination with either deep breathing or taking a break is thinking a calm thought. Think of relaxing on your last vacation, or getting a hug from someone you love. This will help you clear your mind, and give you an enhanced focus when you return to work. Practicing this technique also will help you master your emotional responses to situations in the long run.
Play Music
Music has an almost immediate effect on our emotional well being. Different types of music can be used to excite us, prepare us for action, make us introspective, or calm us down. If you have a great deal of very stressful work to do, play quiet, calming music to help temper your emotional state. Gentle classical music can often serve this purpose well.
Tense-Relax Technique
This technique is another physical technique to reduce stress in your body. Tense the muscles in your toes, and hold for 10 seconds, and then relax them. Next, tense your foot muscles, hold for 10 seconds, and relax. Work your way up your legs and into your torso, arms, and face, holding each muscle group for ten seconds. Your stress level will fall and you'll feel calm and ready to face the challenge in front of you.
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