If you have experienced anxiety, which I am sure you have you will want anything to rid you of it as fast as possible. I get it. Trust me. I have made a list of easy tips to calm down fast.

Tips to calm down fast is something that I have needed during times in the middle of the night and I hope that they can help you too!

It’s hard to be an elegant woman when we are already on edge. Whether it’s about school, work, money, children, whatever it may be.

Life is stressful.

Sadly that is the reality and we must live with it. There is no other option,

Stress is good for the body to a degree, I mean, that is how we survived so many centuries. But in today’s world, with mommy guilt, financial struggles, life being so packed full of activities it’s actually quite a miracle that we aren’t all hiding under our beds!

In this article, I will show you 46 different tips to calm down fast and regain composure to relax and be back to your “normal” self.

46 Easy Tips to Calm Down Fast

1) Blare out some Beethoven

Have you ever heard that music soothes the beast?

Well it does! The crazy anxiety beast that you have buried deep inside you!

By listening to classical and allowing yourself to truly listen to it and feel the way it moves it can help you calm down. You can read all about it here.

You will see that it distracts from your thoughts, it makes you feel smaller and that you are part of a larger world with a bigger picture. It takes you from the moment of weakness that you might be suffering from, and brings you to a place of calm.

2) Stretch for serenity

Whether it’s yoga, walking, cardio, the gym. It really doesn’t matter. Get yourself moving.

It releases endorphins, it makes you feel great and look great.

The idea of moving can get blood circulating and pores sweating. You will feel alive.

I realize that when you are having a panic attack, it might seem counter intuitive because you think you’re most likely going to die from a heart attack, but it seems to help me a lot. The only way you’re going to know is if it works for you, is try it!

3) Breathe

This is a little over done and probably so boring for you to read so I’ll keep it short.

We need to breathe to live.

It’s necessary to breathe more deeply when we are scared or stressed, but for some reason we don’t.

Breathe deeper, longer, stronger and it will help.

Done. No more breathing talk.

4) Write down your feelings

Have a little book always around you that you are able to jot down some feelings. For some reason when you write them out it makes everything different. It gives you another perspective on it.

Sometimes it can make you step back and think you’re completely crazy for thinking a certain way and other times it can help you achieve a solution.

When you can be utterly frank with yourself, there is usually answers hidden in plain view and by jotting hem down, it makes it easier to see them.

5) Feel something soft

I don’t know about you, but when I am just feeling irritated or scared or stressed, rubbing my dog’s ears really just helps.

Yes, I realize that sounds so incredibly odd, but have you not felt a dog’s ears? They are so soft that it doesn’t even seem real! Or when you used to help bake with your parents and you were able to stick your hands in some flour and just enjoyed the feeling of how soft it was.

There are many moments in life where you stop what you’re doing and become mesmerized by something soft, so why should this be any different?

Us humans are a very sensual type. We respond very well to stimuli. Try it out, I promise it will help.

6) Smell something beautiful

This is nothing new at all.

Scents have a way to bring back the most wonderful memories, so use this knowledge to your advantage. Most people use lavender, lemon, or even peppermint.

I love coffee, baking cookies or bread, even freshly cut grass, citrus. Each one can be very personal.

Find something that you can keep close to yourself. At night, when my anxiety can be the worst, I have a bottle near my bed of essential oils that I can smell. My favorite when I am in bed is lavender but that could just be because it’s all I have.

It truly is relaxing. There might be more science to it, but I just think that it triggers other memories which are happier than the one I was experiencing just then.

Experiment with different scents.

7) Cuddle something warm

It could be an animal, a person, or even a hot water bottle.

But grab something that is warm and just hug it. For me, if my little puppy doesn’t feel like snuggling, I have to end up microwaving a magic bag which really works to just calm me down. It’s weird how fast it helps, but it is almost always my first line of defense when I feel an attack about to arise.

8) Imagine calm

When I was younger, and I was really stressed out for a test or a speech, my mom would tell me to think of the beach. Imagine the the waves crashing very gently and the feeling of the warm sand on my toes.

She was trying to help me with imagery. Well, usually it always worked. Since we have the tendency to overthink most things, our mind is evil and can work against us. The ability to slow down, think of calming and soothing thoughts can help fight against the bad ones.

9) Meditate

Or if that isn’t your thing, try just sitting in a quiet room with no thoughts and just focus on what you’re doing physically at the moment. Any mental thoughts, just let them go.

Meditation has been getting so popular over the last 15 years and for good reason. It really does clear your mind of anything and gives you the ability to have a clear head.

Take your time if you haven’t done it before because it might seem weird at first. Actually, it is quite uncomfortable to be honest. When you are wanting to think of nothing, that is the very moment that your mind races and you think of everything bad you did in the last year.

However, once you can get past that part, the benefits are wonderful.

10) Let go

This one is the hardest but I find the most rewarding one of all.

If you are able to truly and I really mean truly, let things go, you will be able to master the calm.

There are just certain things that you need to just let it go. Give it to God or give it to the universe.

11) Reflexology

I have always been fascinated with this kind of practice and I have dabbled in it from time to time.

Let me just say, don’t ever close the door to anything because you never know what might help at certain times in your life.

Read a bit more on reflexology here.

12) Massage / Self-massage

Doesn’t it feel just so wonderful to get massaged. The most wonderful thing about getting massaged is that you don’t need to get it done professionally, or even get it done by someone else.

By rubbing your neck or your head or even your hands can really help your mind be at ease. This article explains is in better way then I could.

All you need to know, massaging feels great. Rubbing releases endorphins which therefore can make your stress melt away.

13) Ask yourself what is going on

Do you know what your triggers are?

Is it something that you can prevent?

Should you even prevent them? I  have seen on YouTube and even read in some articles that it can be good to face your triggers. Get real with them and realize that they are just little bumps that you will get over.

Look deeper into what it is that is bothering you. Always try to get to the root of the problem.

14) Hum

Want to instantly relieve yourself of some stress, take up humming.

I really liked this article on it and found it to be true in my case! You can find it here.

15) Clean up a little

No one likes clutter.

Menial and repetitive work can do the body good. Plus the thought of what you have accomplished helps so much!

Gets your mind on something else other than your anxiety.

16) Watch some YouTube videos or listen to podcasts

You’re clearly not the only one that suffers from anxiety, or else I would never have written this article. I go through times where it affects me more than other times.

I wish I didn’t but I feel like the older I get, the more I have to lose and it genuinely scares me. I have found countless of videos where there are other people like me who suffer from anxiety at times and listening to their coping mechanisms can help.

They provide insight in their ways of dealing with it and sometimes it helps quite a bit.

17) Realize you can’t control a thing

So, funny story.

When I was younger, I thought I could control everything. And well, it seemed that way even after we got married. He was the absolute man of my dreams. Everything was working out perfectly.

Even after his mother passed away, it was all for a bigger plan and I understood why. I still felt in control of my life.

It wasn’t until our daughter was born very ill, and she passed away — it was this whole experience when I realized that I didn’t control a damn thing (no matter what I thought)

The idea of the love of my life being taken away scares me and is part of my anxiety. The idea that I can’t control anything stresses me out, but coming to terms with it can and has brought me a little peace. .

Sad thing is, people die every single day. Lives are changing constantly. All we can do is love who is around us now, fully cherish every moment and appreciate the life that we are living.

18)  Turn that frown upside down

Be positive.

Try to see the good in all things.

It pays to see the good in situations and people. It has been shown in so many people that if they are a glass-half-full type, that their outlook on life is happier and more fulfilled.

When you are feeling stressed, remember everything you’re grateful for and write it down. Read it. Study it. Feel it.

19) Read some inspirational quotes

Who doesn’t love to get inspired by someone’s quotes.

Depending who it is from, it can make me a better writer, gives me stamina when I need it the most, reminds me that I am not alone, that how I am feeling is not isolated and others can relate.

It helps and I admire when I read a quote that makes me say to myself, “she gets me”.

20) Get logical

This one works wonders for me.

When it comes to my anxiety, it usually involves me getting sick, it will get crippling if I don’t get ahold of it now. I have seen what being a hypochondriac can do to people and it is not pretty.

My husband has a way with words. Thank God for him because he puts things flat out there. Making me question my anxiety, which you think would make me angry that he doens’t believe me that I might be having a crushing heart attack and that it comes and goes when I am stressed.

He reminds me that if I haven’t had it yet, most likely, it’s in my head.

In the kindest way possible, he repeats that it’s in my mind and I’m doing it to myself. Which that in itself kind of bothers me, but at least it releases me from the stress I was having and moves it to anger that at least I can answer to.

21) Talk to God, the universe, or something greater than you

There are times just when you feel like you want to keep something quiet and not say anything. I get it, I, too can be quite private of a person. In these times, I talk to God.

You can talk to the universe, or your creator or anything or one that can help you. It’s an amazing feeling to know that the world does not rest on your shoulders. Even though at times it may feel that way, it really doesn’t.

Life will move on without you and their lives will carry on.

It puts things into perspective, gives you hope, and makes you feel like you part of a bigger plan.

22) Then talk to a person you love and trust

When there is something on your mind, how good does it feel to tell someone else. Whether or not they tell you the issue, doesn’t it feel great to get it off your chest. Sometimes they can give you a fresh pair of eyes to look at your anxiety.

Perhaps they can give you some insight that you never thought of before.

It helps me when I am having a little attack to tell my husband and he can usually talk me down and out of an attack before it escalates to something of that magnitude. He always has a way of bringing me back to reality and realizing that it’s all in my head and I am the one making it worse.

As much as I don’t want to admit it, he’s usually always right when it comes to it too!

23) Repeat some affirmations

I used to be very apprehensive of these.

Hard to believe that by repeating a few sentences it can fix all our problems and give us confidence to boot.

Well, that’s probably why it never worked for me. One, I thought it was a set-it-and-forget-it kind of deal. And second, I didn’t truly believe it in my heart.

The frame of mind you are in while saying these affirmations matter. It can be the difference from working and failing. And you can’t just say it once and it will be done, you need to be saying it whenever you can remember to.

Your brain is a powerful tool when used properly. Consider tapping into it and using it for its potential!

24) Replace your bad habit of overthinking with something more helpful

Do you do this?

I do this.

It’s funny how we tend to think of every single possibility that can go wrong. It’s truly a curse. I have tried to acknowledge it, but I guess what is comforting to me is to know that I am not the only one that goes through this.

Many people have this, I have thought that worrying or overthinking is something safe for us. Almost like we have convinced ourselves that if we worry enough, then something bad won’t happen.

Crazy.

But that wouldn’t be the first time that we did something crazy to justify our actions.

Overthinking or worrying just makes everything worse. It almost magnifies our stress and keeps us sucked into believing that it will keep getting worse.

25)  Become a minimalist

Everybody is raving about it.

There are many blogs and vlogs and podcasts about it. That’s because they are onto something!

Having less might seem like a problem, but the less you have the less you are tied down to. It truly can help calm you down because you’re not spending your money on needless things.

Another way it is so relaxing is because there really isn’t as much clutter in your house and therefore in your life.

Remove your clutter, remove your stress.

26) Relieve yourself of any guilty feelings

If this is something that affects you, perhaps you lied to a loved one or cheated on a test, the only way you will get better is to fix your wrong.

I know this might not be what you want to hear but unfortunately, it may be the only way.

A guilty conscious is like a disease and it can manifest itself in your body and continue to grow and get worse and worse!

This can be the hardest thing you do because it usually means to rehash some ugly things in your life, but to get better you have to go through the hard first.

Nobody says it was going to be easy, but the idea of ending your anxiety can be a reward in and of itself.

27) Be honest with yourself

For some people, the anxiety could be rooted in something that you know you need to fix.

Living a lie, never done it before, but boy oh boy, I could only imagine how exhausting it would be to keep up with the lies.

If you are always telling the truth then you don’t need to remember anything!

Your body has a way of dealing with your lies and it usually consists of attacks that you might be able to control at first, but it will come out.

Stop lying at every part of your life, even if you’re just lying to yourself.

28) Slow down

How many times have we seen this lately.

In a world that is speeding up, there is a trend that is taking over about slowing down.

Try it for yourself, don’t wait for your anxiety to strike to slow down, let it become your life. Define your life not by how much you can squeeze in during your waking hours, but what you can do to get a few things done while giving yourself enough time.

It might seem impossible at first, but even you had to crawl before you walked.

29) Don’t be in debt

So many people have restless nights because of financial worries.

It’s a huge stressors in marriages and relationships. It can make sane people do crazy things and also can bring upon desperate measures. By eliminating stress, it is just one less thing to be a trigger or something to be on your mind.

Money has the ability to give you freedom or sentence you to a metaphorical jail cell.

If you are able to live within your own means and not borrow money, then do so. It is easier to live with less but owe nothing than it is to live a life that truly isn’t yours.

30) Stare at fire

This is similar to meditating, but just a bit different because it really gets you to stop thinking about anything that could be going on in your life. Fire has always been something that is amazing to humans.

It’s warm.

It dances around with what seems to be no boundaries.

Besides it being so small, the power it harnesses can be dangerous.

And if you’re outside, the smell and sounds can be intoxicating! It’s still one of my favorite ways to spend an evening in the fall!

31) Eat that ice cream

I usually am not one to promote emotional eating (seeing as I suffer it, I realize the stronghold it has on people!) but we are sometimes too rigid on ourselves.

We give ourselves rules and boundaries, which don’t get me wrong, I find them incredibly necessary or else I would be as big as a house and have no money. But there are times when you have to loosen up the grip and let it all hang out!

The most wonderful part, is that you can feel like it’s a treat. Allow it sometimes, but don’t get carried away or use your emotions as an excuse.

32) You are smarter than your anxiety

I don’t know about you, but when I feel that prickly and heavy blanket of anxiety come over me, I feel already defeated.

I like to refer to it as my big bad bully.

It’s something that picks on me when I am most vulnerable, it knows where to hit me when it hurts, and it makes me feel little and helpless.

Remind yourself that you are letting it control you, not the other way around.

33) It’s never as bad as you think

Doom and gloom.

That’s how panic attacks work. They really make you think that there is no way out. It’s a terrible feeling!

But, through experience, how many times were you able to get out of it alive and realize that when you look back it was never as bad.

It’s funny because even though I have had many times where I can look back and see that — when another anxiety attack comes my way, it’s like I forget that I am strong enough to make it through.

Repeat to yourself until you believe it, it’s never as bad as you think.

34) Take a hot shower or bath

This is a good way to distract your mind from whatever your stressors are, unless your anxiety stems from water, then in that case just skip to the next point! 😛

Again, referring to anxiety as a bully, it comes when it is the most inconvenient time. Usually, it’s when I am trying to fall asleep and I just want to go to bed. It hits with a vengeance,  usually telling me that I probably will die of something in my sleep. It makes it impossible to calm down enough to sleep.

This is where you enter the shower or bath. It gets you up, moving around, distracting you from your initial fears. It changes your frame of mind, even enough to make you realize how crazy you might be. It helps me usually.

35) It’s time to Netflix some comedy

Who doesn’t like to laugh?

I have a soft spot for stand up. I like to laugh and I find that it’s a great stress reliever. I remember a few nights where I couldn’t sleep but putting on something funny made me temporarily forget why I was stressed, therefore helping me to sleep.

There’s a reason people say laughter is the best medicine!

36) Life is too short

Think about it.

No, like, truly think about it!

Life is so terribly short! I have been alive on this earth for 30 years. Just like that in a blink of an eye, 30 years. So technically, another blink and I’ll be 60.

Now, 60 is practically the new 35, but just to say how fast time — it really has no time to stress out.

If you are able to back up from your point of view and try to see life from the big picture, you will realize that the struggle you are concentrating on or focusing on is so minute that it almost seems laughable.

Just think back to your struggles in high school. The problems that you dealt with and your struggles were really nothing by your today’s standards. My point is, you will grow and look back and think that this issue wasn’t as big as you might be making it.

37) Get yourself a hobby from another century

Yes, get away from the 21st and I would even say maybe the 20th century and slow down!

Any hobby that needs technology should be avoided like the plague. You get enough of that from your day to day activities. Whether it’s from work or play, it’s nice to just slow down.

Some hobbies are knitting, crocheting, cooking, baking, reading (a book!), learning something new (not with YouTube), woodworking, write anything, scrap booking, the list can go on!

Disconnect. Hang it up. And reap the benefits of simplicity.

38) Get your behind off social media

As vital as it is to know what your triggers are, it is just as important to not make new ones.

Sometimes, social media (usually Instagram in my case, but it can occur on Twitter or Facebook) has a tendency to make you look at your sad and sorry excuse of a life, and make you feel down in the dumps. Even people who “have it all” can feel empty and sad — so this bully will take any it can get, it does not have an M-O.

Avoid it if you can, or tread lightly.

Just always remind yourself to never compare.

39) Keep yourself busy

Sometimes I find that doing nothing can be one of the worst things for my anxiety.

It almost gives it time to fester in my brain and play around with my mind. But if I keep my mind doing a task, it has to be hard enough where it uses my brain, but not too much where it frustrates me — that is the spot of happiness.

Who know that dull and monotonous work was really the path to true happiness. You’re welcome!

TIP: Next time you are stressed, try washing some dishes by hand in the warm water. Focus completely on it and be in the moment. Hand washing is a secret to peace! 😉

40) Make out or make love

Okay, just listen here.

I realize that when you are going through a moment of anxiety, the very last thing on your mind is romance. I get it.

But, did you know how hard it is to think when you’re kissing.

I don’t care how good of a multi-tasker you are, it’s almost impossible.

So next time you’re wallowing in fear, grab your spouse and pucker up.

41) Take off tight clothing

When anxiety strikes and I’m stuck in tight pants or feel like my high rise pants might be suffocating me, it makes it worse by about a million times.

It’s like I can feel the life getting sucked out of me.

I know personally, it’s hard to relax when your clothes are a bit too snug and I find that just putting on the biggest clothes as possible, it can instantly bring a little more tranquility to your moment.

This won’t solve it, but it can take some of the side effects and reduce them, therefore, making you feel that your stress isn’t as bad.

TIP: If you’re at school and work and can’t throw on some baggy pjs? Keep a big sweater, one that is comfortable but fits your dress code and keep it in your car, your locker, or the back of your chair. Change into that even if it is for a few hours to just help for a while.

42) Fold laundry

Remember how I said do something that doesn’t use your brain, well here is one that helps.

But it also helps to put it away, it is organizing. It is the fact that you are giving more clean clothes to wear.

It’s warm and soft (as I mentioned earlier)

Actually, if you stop and think about it, folding laundry might be the most perfect chore.

43) Look at pictures or videos of cats

Please take me seriously here!

I know it sounds utterly insane to imagine that some little fluff ball could be responsible for happiness, but it’s true! According to a study done with 7000 people by an Indiana University Media School researcher, their mood was tracked after watching cats and then recorded.

They found they had more energy after viewing the videos, it relieved their awful mood and what I loved the most was that the idea of them procrastinating wasn’t a factor when they took into account how good it made them feel! It’s all here and give it a read if you want to see more of their findings.

So, I really don’t think I need to say more but watch some cute animals and feel those endorphins flood your body! Your anxiety will definitely dissipate after this!

44) Look at your vision board

If you have one of these, this is perfect.

I don’t have a physical one because frankly, I just am not that artsy and I don’t have room to keep it up. Another reason to be honest, is I find it to be extremely personal and I can be almost embarrassed by it. Now when I write that, it does sound a little weird, but we all have our own idiosyncrasies.

If you don’t have the time or desire to make one, but you want to look at imagery, may I suggest creating one on Pinterest. You can make one completely in private, that only you can see and edit.

How does a vision board help you bring calm into your life?

Simple! It is everything that brings you happiness.

If you find that you are always referring to a board — you can even make one specifically for when you are having an anxiety attack. It helps to see your life, your goals, your dreams, and good memories all together looking organized and pretty!

45) Never consult with Dr.Google…. Ever again

Of all the things that has helped me, this was the one that had the most profound change in my life!

Believe it or not, but whenever I had an “unexplained” ache or issue, there I was googling it.

Just to give you an example. I have double vision at times, especially when my eyes are exhausted or I don’t take proper care of them (hence why now I am usually wearing my glasses!). Well I googled double vision and next thing I know I am most likely suffering a stroke, have a brain tumor, maybe I am going blind, there could be a chance I might just drop dead before I even finish reading the potential diagnoses.

Well, let’s just say I was freaking out because I know me and the way I work. I could even say I am a mild hypochondriac of sorts. My trigger isn’t my double vision or my chest pain or headaches, it’s having too much information that doesn’t actually include me.

What helps me is realizing that if I had this problem before, and I got it checked out already, and I’m still alive then its most likely in my head. Which brings me to my next point…

46) Don’t be scared to die

Exactly.

Most of my anxiety comes from the idea that I might die.

When I am typing this out, I know it sounds so ridiculous but in the moment it is terrifying.

If you can eliminate the fear of death, which I might have to add again, none of us can really control, then the anxiety will lessen.

In conclusion

If you haven’t seen the pattern, it’s all about changing your mind frame. Distracting your brain from something that you are thinking that is happening from what is actually happening.

Master your true emotions, rid yourself of any guilt, think of serene surroundings, look deeply into who you are and you might just beat your anxiety’s butt!

Be elegant, be passionate and live your one and only life by being in control of it and not allowing your thoughts to control you.