Years ago, a close family member likened my efforts to those of a tug boat smashing against the cliff. In short, I was ploughing in a sea of effort – but not achieving the results I wanted. I was becoming annoyed and frustrated. These feelings frequent my busy mind still today, however I have a few ways in which I help bring about a sense of calm:

1: I remind myself that the only actions and feelings that I can control are mine. This sounds obvious, but I’m sure many of you feel annoyed or frustrated in a situation, and before you know it your heart is racing and you feel wound up. So you must say aloud to yourself: “This is not due to my actions and so I can’t control this.” Try saying this to yourself in front of a mirror.

2: Learning to breathe correctly clears the mind and improves the capacity for concentration. I practice breathing techniques many times throughout the day and an easy one to learn is called “box breathing” which the Navy Seals use. You can follow this link to try it for yourselves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=muahtBRDac8

3: Keep a time planner or utilise any diary style that suits you best. Note the tasks which need doing and focus on the priority ones first. You could grade them as ABC, or 123 – so that when you finish your daily routine only the less important ones are outstanding.

4: Learn to say “No”. It’s such a relief to start saying “no” when friends or family try to lure you to do something which you don’t want to do, or that you simply can’t fit in to your hectic diary. Perhaps you could offer compromises or more suitable dates, or suggest something which you feel more comfortable doing.

5: If you don’t like crowds but you want to enjoy a particular pursuit, such as sitting on the beach, try to find quite spots or deliberately go to the busy shopping centre out of rush hours. Remember to take a list or pack suitable items in advance – I keep a beach bag ready packed in my car for when I find a secluded spot.

You will discover your own tips on keeping yourself calm. Your calm is your wellbeing, so it’s important to bring this to a conscious level of thinking!