6 Helpful Tips To Stay Calm In Stressful Situation

When a serious situation arises at work, your first instinct may be to panic. Unfortunately, severe anxiety and stress can result in a complete meltdown. This response can cause long-term damage to your health and lower your ability to perform optimally.

Many of the world's greatest achievers, including entrepreneurs, athletes and artists, could not have reached their level of success without learning how to stay extremely calm under pressure. They have the ability to develop and maintain a particular state of psychological readiness, a mental preparedness they summon on demand.

# Slow Down

What makes a tough situation worse is your negative reaction toward it. As much as possible, delay your reaction and take time to breathe first.There’s a tendency for people to act in haste when confronted by a stressful situation. But it’s important to stop for a minute and slow down.Instead of making yourself an active participant, take a step back and view the situation in a bigger picture. This helps you become less emotional and make more sound decisions.Take five deep breaths and imagine all the stress leaving your body as you breathe out. Smile, even if you have to fake it because it’s difficult to stay grumpy when you have a grin on your face.

# Loosen Up

Loosening up a bit will also help you to stay calm. After taking deep breaths, assess parts of your body that feel tight or tense.
Is your jaw clenched? Do your shoulders feel rounded? Are there any other areas that don’t feel comfortable?Gently massage these tense areas until they become more relaxed. It also helps to picture yourself in a calming place like a beach or a nature trail.

# Call a Friend

Having a “vent buddy” not only helps in difficult situations, but it’s good for your overall well-being, too. If you have a family or a friend who you can vent out your frustrations to, keep that person.It’s never wrong to ask for help, especially during tough times. Use your support system, and never hesitate to seek advice.Someone who isn’t involved in the situation you’re in may see the dilemma from a different viewpoint. This can give you a chance to hear potential solutions from others.
Reaching out to people you trust will help ground you, giving you more control over your anxiety and stress. You may even discover a different way to handle the situation as you open up yourself and share your thoughts out loud.

# Unplug and Disconnect

Remove yourself from the stressful situation. It’s difficult to stay calm when you are so focused and engaged with the situation.
Disconnect for an hour or two. Turn your phone on silent mode or switch off your notifications. Shutting down any noise or distraction will help you clear your head. It will give you time to process the challenge and the emotions surrounding it, allowing you to approach the situation with a fresh perspective.

# Decompress and Relax

Stress, fatigue, anxiety, and sleep deprivation are woven into people’s lives that it’s become crucial to decompress. If you remain stressed or anxious for a long period, it will hurt not only your physical health but mental health as well.
To cope with a stressful situation, do something you enjoy. Is there a sport you love or do you find meditation relaxing?
Play your favorite sports, meditate, read a book, or watch a movie. You can also take a short walk or hit the gym to increase your stamina.In a nutshell, do something that will take your mind off the stressful situation. It will help you make more sound decisions when you’re able to rejuvenate your mind.

# Change Your Perspective

Once you’re done decompressing, you may have a completely different viewpoint on things. Embrace this fresh perspective or the new way you think about the situation.Remember that the thoughts you choose to focus on have the power to either intensify or diminish the stress and anxiety you’re feeling. Choose to focus on positive coping statements and stress-reducing thoughts to stay calm in a difficult situation.