“A calm mind brings inner strength and self-confidence, so that’s very important for good health.”

– Dalai Lama

I stumbled upon this quote one day, and it has become my motto in life. Our state of mind changes constantly; one minute, we could be happy and carefree, and the next, we could be bawling our eyes out. We all face obstacles every day, and we can never know what can life hits us with. Take the pandemic, for example; one morning, we were living our lives as usual, going to work, meeting with people, and going out with friends and family: then suddenly, we were on lockdown with strict restrictions and banned from making physical contact with anyone. It is not easy to accept changes, big or small. We heard of well-being and healthy mindsets, but during and after those two long years of lockdown, they were sought out more; in addition to all the catastrophic events today, even more. Wanting a peaceful mindset is something many want but hard to achieve. Channeling our mind into a positive, clear, fresh state takes time, discipline, and patience. In this article, I wrote some tips that can be a starting way:

1. Listen to your all-time favorite songs. Music is a great way to lift your spirit and mood. Jamming with the singer and singing out loud till your throat hurts; is a fun way to escape reality for a few minutes to clear your head.
2. Get your body moving. In addition to having a mini concert, dancing like nobody is watching can be a fun distraction from reality. If not, working out for a while or going for a walk or a run, or going to the gym are also great ways to do it.
3. Take a nap. Taking catnaps to help refresh and ease up. During those few snoozed hours, your mind is completely relaxed and worry-free, and once up, you will have a clearer perspective.

• Write it out. Journaling and writing out how you feel helps control your emotions and improve your mental health. It doesn’t have to be organized or neat; jotting your thoughts can help.
• Take a warm bath. Studies have shown that taking a bath helps your nervous system to distress and relax as your body sinks into the warm water.
• Meditate. Meditation can improve your well-being and overall health by providing a sense of calm, peace, and balance. It’s not about sitting crisscross and humming loudly, by simply closing your eyes, evening out your breath, and refocusing your attention on something calming, can bring you into a peaceful state.
• Get out of the house. You don’t need to go to a specific location; you can walk around aimlessly to clear your head. I love to go for a walk. I feel liberated and free, walking around my neighborhood, earphones in, and listening to music or podcast.
• Watch a movie or read a book. To escape reality, start by reading a new book and maybe, change the genre to make things more interesting. Watch your favorite movie to lift your spirit, or check out new ones online.
• Clean. I found having a clean and organized space lifts the mood; you will feel much more relaxed and refreshed. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a big cleaning spree (unless you personally enjoy it); start with cleaning and organizing one area at a time.
• Treat yourself. Buy your favorite treat, take yourself out for a meal, or buy something you have been eyeing for a while. If your bank account can handle it, have a spa day for yourself to relax and loosen up.
• Talk it out. Talking to someone you trust about your problems and worries will lift that burden off your shoulders; it will help you move on and think of something else.
• Build a steady routine. A routine helps you in managing your time and limits unpredictability. It also helps form good daily habits, makes you feel more productive, and makes you sharper and more focused.