Feeling Calm: A Guide to Your Emotions

PUBLISHED Apr 26th, 2021 & UPDATED ON Nov 29th, 2022

tThere’s nothing quite like feeling calm, huh? We know how stressful life can be! It could be work, school, relationships or any sort of commitments we have to make time for, and it can be really hard to balance all of those things. But when we’re feeling calm, it’s like all of the noise faaades away. We’re in a state of bliss. We feel relaxed, at ease and carefree.

Typically when we think of ultimate calm, a vacation to a tropical place or a day at the spa comes to mind. But we don’t always need to escape in order to feel calm! Sometimes we’re content right where we are, and that’s pretty awesome.

Feeling calm isn’t the easiest emotion to come by, we know. So when we do feel calm, it’s nice to take the time to fully enjoy this feeling. So let’s dive thru how it feels to be calm and the wonders it does for our mental wellbeing!

A Deeper Look at Feeling Calm

We all know what it feels like to be calm (at least, we hope that’s the case!) but let’s throw a definition in there for good measure. Dictionary.com defines relaxed as: “adj. free from excitement or passion; tranquil.” Ahhh, that sounds nice, doesn’t it?

Think of the last time you felt truly calm. Maybe it was the holidays and you had some time off from work or school. You were surrounded by friends and family, and there was no need to set an alarm in the morning. Lounging around the house in your pajamas was totally acceptable. Binging shows on Netflix, eating delicious home-cooked meals and curling up on the couch were the only things on your agenda.

Why do we always look forward to the weekend, our next vacation or a holiday? It’s pretty simple: these periods of time are the epitome of calm. They break up our regular routine. There’s no expectation to get anything done. We just get to EXIST. No added stressors or responsibilities, just chillaxing. Yes, that’s a word.

When we work hard, it’s easy to get caught up in everyday stress. But taking the time to find moments of calm is sooo important. And no, it doesn’t have to wait until the next holiday! Try to incorporate calmness into everyday life. It doesn’t make you less of a hard worker, or hinder you from your goals. In fact, the benefits of calmness will give you the boost you need to perform your best! We don’t wanna burnout now do we? So let’s make the conscious effort to relaxxx now and then!

How Feeling Calm Shows Up Mentally

Stating the obvious here, but feeling calm does wonders for our mental wellbeing. You’re probably thinking ok, duh but we need to talk about this. ‘Cause the benefits are just too good not to recognize them in all their relaxed, soothing glory! Here are a few ways calmness improves our mental health:

Improved focus, thinking clearly
Ability to make better decisions
Boosted mood
More positive outlook on life
Increased self-esteem, boosted confidence

All in all, feeling calm has the opposite effect of stress on our mental health. When our stress is reduced and we feel more at ease, we tend to take better care of ourselves and enjoy life more. It’s not always easy since so many stressors can come up at any given time, lots of which aren’t in our control. But this is why it’s so important to find ways to combat stress with calmness. Our mind and bodies need it!

How Feeling Calm Shows Up Physically

Our mental health and physical health are linked so it’s no surprise that there are some great physical benefits to calmness, too! Let’s take a look, shall we? Why not.

Lowered heart rate
Reduced blood pressure
Decreased feelings of anger, frustration
Improved sleep, reduced fatigue
Reduced muscle tension and chronic pain

Again, feeling calm is the opposite of stressed so our bodies will experience a total shift when we go from a period of stress to one of calm. Another great thing about combating stress with calmness is that you’re less likely to get sick, plus you’ll live longer! Yeppp, it’s true. So take care of yourself, friend! Your life literally depends on it (no pressure!).

How to Embrace Feeling Calm

So you’re feeling calm (or you’re trying reallyyy hard to get there). Great, now what? Good news: we’ve got some helpful practices for you so that you can become super calm and alleviate any stress. Try ‘em out for yourself!

1. Engage in Something Soothing And Comforting

When we feel calm, this is a great time to participate in our fave comfort activities. Spend time with your pet by cuddling them or taking them on a walk. Touch something comforting like your fave cozy blanket. Brew some tea or your drink of choice. Find whichever method or activity is right for you in the moment!

2. Practice Meditation

This might be THE most calm practices of all time. Or at least, it’s probably been around the longest! This practice allows us to slowww down and shift our mindset, which is great when you’re stressed and wanna feel relaxed AF. If you’re not sure how to meditate, follow a guided practice to get you started. It’s a game-changer, trust us!

3. Journal

We’re big fans of journaling here at DiveThru. It’s a great practice for exploring your feelings and reframing any negative thoughts you might be experiencing. Also, the process can just be sooo very calming. You get to put pen to paper and let the words just flow! Does it get any more calming than that?! We think not.

4. Practice Gratitude

Practicing gratitude allows us to show appreciation for all of the good things in life. That might include writing a list of things that bring you joy, volunteering in your community, or showing acts of kindness to the people who make your life better. It honestly feels great for everyone involved, so why not try it out for yourself!

5. Engage in Something Creative

Getting creative can be suuuper calming. And the best thing about it is that there are endless ways to be creative! There’s sketching, colouring, sculpting and painting. Playing an instrument, singing and dancing. Writing poetry, stories or blog posts. Knit yourself a sweater, if that’s what you’re into! When you’re creating something and lovin’ every minute of it, you’re gonna feel 1000x more at ease.

That’s all for now, friend! We hope these practices help you feel calmer whenever you need it. ‘Cause this feeling is simply the bessst!