Jan. 11, 2023
By Kayla Oglivie
Staff Writer
Everybody wants inner peace, but not everyone knows how to achieve it. While gaining tranquility can be difficult, it is worth the effort, and there is no better time to work towards this goal than the start of a New Year.
Small steps can go a long way in maintaining inner peace, so here are 15 strategies you can start applying today:
- Listen to relaxing music. You may find it beneficial to put on your headphones, ease your muscle tension and spend a few minutes disconnecting from the rushed pace of daily life.
- Get enough sleep. It is beneficial to catch up on some good sleep because it will make you feel energized for the day, ready to achieve your goals and in a good mood. If you are 13-18 years old, you should aim to get 8-10 hours of sleep each night.
- Meditate. Meditation is a practice that has multiple benefits for brain health and overall well-being. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) typically recommends 40-45 minutes of practice per day.
- Practice self-care. Focus on your physical well-being by drinking tea, eating healthy and exercising. This will help your body, skin and mind.
- Declutter. Untidy environments can create and increase stress. Trashing old clothes and cleaning up your surroundings can lower your anxiety level and keep you organized.
- Catch up on work. Homework is a key source of stress among students. Even if you find it tedious or boring, do not procrastinate when it comes to homework. This will lead to good grades and better time management.
- Go shopping. If you enjoy this pastime, head to your favorite store or mall. Shopping can lift your mood, lower stress levels, improve mental acuity, increase life span and is a great exercise.
- Burn candles. Lighting a candle can create an ambiance that simply cannot be replicated. It can induce a sense of calm and well-being that can benefit your mind.
- Read a book. Pick up a book you enjoy, sit back next to your candle and read. Reading can help improve literacy and exercise the brain. Since books can be borrowed from the school or public library, they can be a free form of entertainment that can increase general knowledge.
- Spend time in Nature. Being out in nature can increase calmness, promote happiness, reduce feelings of isolation, lower blood pressure, reduce irritability, reduce depression and restore the capacity for concentration.
- Turn on your “Do Not Disturb” smartphone setting. There is more to blocking notifications than meets the eye. Blocking notifications prevents disruption of sleep, eliminates a jolt of stress and helps focus so you can accomplish your daily goals.
- Overcome fear. Take time to calm down from a flooded mind by placing the palm of your hand on your stomach and breathing slowly and deeply. This can lower your anxiety and increase tranquility. This is just one way you can lower the feeling of fear when it arises.
- Spend time with family. Time with family can encourage open communication, build self-esteem, benefit positive family and relationship dynamics, reinforce family rules, help meet emotional needs and improve mental health.
- Try a new hobby. You are less likely to suffer from stress when you do things you enjoy. Daily activities can keep you remain happy and relaxed throughout the day. If your hobby involves a group activity, that can also help improve your communication skills and relationships with others.
- Clean your space. Having a clean space can result in greater physical fitness, improved focus, better sleep quality and a reduction in stress and anxiety.
