HOW TO CREATE YOUR CALM MAP

Now more than ever, we are all feeling the strain of modern life, the pressure to constantly be productive and the growing anxiety that lockdowns and border closures bring. 

Paradoxically, social media, our bosses and society in general, are telling us to simultaneously Hit! Your! Targets!, whilst reminding us not to forget to take time for self-care, which normally includes nothing short of a 10 step skincare routine, eight hours of uninterrupted sleep and green juice to start your day.

There is absolutely no way that you can do both at the same time to the same degree of efficacy and success, and nor should you have to.

When did self-care become not only a competition but just another thing that you had to be doing right, something that you had to be good at? Self-care has started to stray away from a practice that was grounded in looking after yourself and your mental health, into yet another thing we can be better at than our followers, another thing we can boast about, another target to hit. 

Self-care needs to be rebranded. At the heart of it, self-care is about looking after yourself by doing activities that bring you calm, bring you a sense of peace. These activities should not bring you stress or send you into a shame spiral if you forget to do them. These activities should bring you joy, they should allow you to escape whatever is making you stressed or anxious, even if it’s just for 20 minutes. And above all, you do not have to be good at whatever activity makes you calm. You just have to enjoy it!

Yes, there are several textbook, go-to recommendations when it comes to calming, self-care, mental maintenance style activities. Journalling, meditation and yoga are all amazing practices that can help reduce stress and act as a form of therapy. But what if they aren’t for you? I know so many people who have struggled to get into any of the above, and that is okay! 

The trick to finding what works for you is simple – create your calm map. A calm map is simply a written reminder of what you need to pass on your road to reaching peak calmness – it’s a map to finding your calm. By simply jotting down as little or as many activities as you like that make you feel calm, you can always refer back to your calm map in times when you are struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and need a little bit of calming inspiration. 

I’ve created a list of just some of the activities or things that can help you to feel calm to spark your imagination that expands beyond the usual scope of meditation, yoga and journaling. 

Reading 

Cuddling up in bed with one of your favourite books and a cup of tea can not only be extremely calming, but it’s a psychologist approved form of therapy, called bibliotherapy. Entertainment and mental health care combined!

Cooking

For some, this might be the antithesis of a calming activity, but for others, cooking can be a very meditative experience. If you fall into that category, take some time out this weekend to cook your favourite meal, whip up a cafe-style breakfast at home or bake something indulgent just because. Pop on some music in the background and have fun with it – cook for the sake of cooking, not just because you need to slam dinner on the table. For some recipe inspiration, check out a home cook like Jess Nguyen.
Exercising 

Exercise is proven to not only distract you from what you were anxious about in the first place, but it also decreases muscle tension, helping you to physically relax, amongst other amazing benefits. And it doesn’t have to be strenuous – going for a long walk around your neighbourhood, doing an online yoga class, committing to a HIIT workout or even just dancing around your living room can help you to feel more relaxed, calmer. 

Listening to Hypnosis Audio Recording

Listen to my Relaxation hypnosis audio recording, which can be found in my Higher Ground Hypnosis Library. Hypnosis feels a lot like meditation, as it places you in an extremely relaxed state. Everyone’s experience is different, and there are many different topics in the Higher Ground Hypnosis Library to choose from. I would recommend the Relax/Calming hypnosis recording if you are feeling more anxious than usual and are searching for a feeling of calm. 

Organising or Cleaning

Like cooking, to some, this might sound like a nightmare! But for the Virgos and/or more Type A inclined personalities out there, this one is for you. Sometimes, there is nothing better than a big deep clean – organising your junk drawer, going through your makeup, even something as simple as changing your sheets can have an overwhelming effect of calmness. 

Listening to Music

Music soothes the soul – whether you’ve already got a go-to feel-good playlist that gets you dancing, or you’re in the mood for a more chilled out, slow listen, there are millions of playlists out there that can instantly change your mood and take your mind off things. If you’re in the mood for something more relaxing, check out my Higher Ground Sundays playlist on Spotify, or if you’re searching for something with a little more kick, check out this Wes Anderson inspired one. 

Watching your favourite series 

If binge-watching a nostalgic show is your favourite form of escapism, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that in my books. Sometimes, tuning out from your reality and plugging into a show for a few hours is the best way to unwind, and you should enjoy it guilt-free.

These are just some of the activities that you can put on your calm map. Remember, whatever makes you calm, is a form of self-care. And no, it doesn’t need to involve a regimented early wake-up exercise routine if you don’t want it to.

supportive resources;

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