Calming techniques are strategies that you can use when you feel stressed. Use these exercises when you become overwhelmed, but they work best if you practise them every day.
Each technique will take between 1-3 minutes to complete and you should try to repeat it at least a couple of times during the day.
Remember: find a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted, and prepare yourself by taking a few deep breaths.
Countdown
Take a deep breath and begin to count back slowly from 100. By the time you reach 1, you will be feeling calm.
Counting up
Slowly count from 1 to 5, taking a deep breath into your belly as you reach each number.
Squashing putty
Find something soft and malleable, like putty, and squash it between your fingers while you focus on your breath.
Name your emotion
Sit with this realisation for a moment. Once you identify your feelings, they become easier to cope with.
Wall push
Lean against the wall and push your entire body against it for 10 seconds. Relax and release the tension in your body.
