How I’m Learning to Stay Calm in Difficult Situations

You’ve probably faced your fair share of difficult situations in 2020, perhaps more than any other year. It’s been a tough time for alot of us, not being able to see loved ones, some facing job loss or pay cuts, people around us getting sick, just to name a few. It can be hard to not react to different things that come our way in life, but one thing I try my best to do is stay calm.

When something unexpected or something unfair happens in our lives, we all have various coping mechanisms and ways we approach those situations. It can be really easy to get angry and overwhelmed when we find ourselves in those situations. But today I’m sharing some tips on how we can be better at staying calm in difficult situations.

I appreciate that every situation is unique and the tips I will be sharing are very generic. So please bare that in mind when reading! I wish I knew how to help you all in all of your own individual situations but that would be impossible!

BREATHE

It seems obvious but, before you fly off the handle, remember to breathe. Whenever I start to feel anxious or stressed in situations, it’s my breathing that changes first. I become breathless, my heart starts beating and it really makes me panic and everything gets worse. Working on your breathing and focusing on that can help you to calm down. Counting out loud or just making a conscious effort to breathe slowly can really help to bring stress levels down.

I use this technique when I feel as though I’m about to have a panic attack. I stop and focus on something I can see and then work on my breathing. It really helps alot!

WALK AWAY

I know there are various situations where it’s not possible to leave, but try you if you are able to and walk away from the situation. People love to add fuel to the fire, especially if it’s a disagreement that you’re having with someone. Walking away from a situation that isn’t good for you is the best way to give yourself a clean break from it. I know saying is easier than doing here, as some things are harder to walk away from. I don’t know your individual situations, but from personal experience walking away has always helped me to stay calm.

EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS

Alot of the time, the reason why we don’t remain calm in difficult situations is because we get riled up and angry and then we start saying things we don’t mean. It’s healthy to express your feelings, I always advise to do this. Holding in your feelings will only cause you to explode at a later point. Expressing what you feel can really help you to calm you down. It might not be best to do it if you are feeling angry at the time, but perhaps after you have had time to think and reflect.

IDENTIFY THE STRESSOR

It might not necessarily be a person thats causing the stress you are facing, it could be a job or a place. I’ve been in situations where it was the environment around me thats caused the stress and anxiety and not the people. Pin pointing the reason for the stress is important. That way you can take any necessary steps to remove it or remove yourself from it.

It’s important to have coping mechanisms during tough times too. Having a game plan in your mind can really help when you face these situations, and believe me there will be quite a few. We can’t control what comes our way in life but what we can control is whether we let it take over us. We have that power, nobody else. It’s important to mention here that these situations come to test us and I always find there are lessons to be learnt through the bad stuff.

How do you stay calm when you’re in a difficult situation?

Don’t forget that self-care is so important in these things. Making sure that you remember your emotions and how you feel through difficult situations is really important for your overall wellbeing.

Olivia x
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Tomorrow is the start of Blogmas! I’ll be posting everyday in December up until Christmas Day. Come back tomorrow for Blogmas day 1!