C.J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
The Art of Being Still: 5 Ways To Bring It Into Your Life
It's such a little thing in our lives but makes a significant impact on our frame of mind, our abilities to deal with stress, and everything in between! Being still is such a hard thing to come by these days because we have so many tasks in our daily lives to complete. Like many people, I am always doing something, and I have to constantly remind myself to take a break and be still. It’s hard, but I know it’s necessary for my health and well-being.
Floating in water is a great form of stillness
Did you know that stillness is possible for everyone and is always within your reach? So, how can you do this in practical terms? Read on to learn our five favorite ways to bring more practice of the art of being still into your life.
Journaling is a calming practice
1- Choose a Still Practice
From writing in a journal to coloring in a book, the greatest thing about being still is that it gives you a lot of focus. So if you want to start being creative while sitting in one place, it allows your brain to go a mile a minute while you start to slow down in the physical sense.
This is sometimes known as the flow state, where time seems to whizz by. You can learn more about coloring but you can also choose methods that suit you more, such as knitting or crafting.
Practicing your breathing can bring quickly bring stillness
2- Breathing (in the Right Ways)
If you want to be still, the first thing you have to recognize is that when you are rushing around you are very likely breathing shallow and fast. But doing this increases the sympathetic nervous system, which will make you feel more anxious. When you breathe low, slow, and deep, you are going to induce the parasympathetic nervous system, which will slow down your heart rate.
Additionally, it's important to remember that when you breathe in your heart rate speeds up, but when you breathe out, your heart rate slows down. So focus on breathing slower and you should see a big difference in your overall well-being.
If you love this article, we know you’ll love this one too: How to Create a Relaxation Station
Try meditating in nature often
3- Repeat Calming Phrases
If you struggle to create a structure of stillness in your life, you can start to stimulate your brain by talking to it. Positive statements such as “I am calm” can go a long way to penetrate through to your subconscious. It's not an overnight solution, but it can certainly help you to facilitate calmness throughout your life.
Try vacationing in calm destinations for more stillness
4- Practice Whenever You Need It
There will be times when you are feeling overwhelmed, and it's these moments where you need to practice being still. It's possible to be calm in the face of a storm. And even in a work environment, taking a few seconds just to focus on breathing slowly can make a big difference.
Adding natural scents, like lavender, can add a calming effect to your home
5- Schedule Stillness Into Your Life
If you are not able to do it spontaneously, make time for it. You need to make stillness a priority, especially if you're feeling incredibly anxious in your life. Because the fact is that in these moments you could do with more times of stillness, so you can make yourself a priority. Because if you are not setting aside time for yourself, it might be time to start bringing in more practices to ensure you are able to cope with what life throws at you.
Whether this means having more crafting in your life, or just learning to step away so you have a few seconds to breathe low, slow, and deep, being still makes a massive difference.
C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Little Ways to Get Back To You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post, however, are based on my personal point of view.