Some days, it feels like the whole world is coming undone. Maybe it’s a cyclone barrelling through your area, political chaos across the globe, or wars that make every news headline feel heavier than the last. It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of fear, stress, and uncertainty. But the truth is, no matter how much we wish we could, we can’t single-handedly stop storms, fix governments, or bring world peace overnight.
What we can do is focus on ourselves—our reactions, our well-being, and our own sense of peace. The more we cultivate calm within, the more resilience we have to navigate the chaos outside. So how do we do that when it feels like everything is unravelling?
1.Control the Controllable
Let’s be honest—so much of life is out of our hands. We can’t stop the storm from coming, but we can prepare. We can’t personally mend global conflicts, but we can choose where we put our attention and energy. Instead of dwelling on everything beyond your control, focus on what is within your reach: your mindset, your daily choices, your self-care.
Ask yourself, What can I do right now that will make a positive difference in my life? Maybe that’s stocking up on supplies, turning off the news for a while, or reaching out to a friend for support. Small actions keep you grounded in the present rather than spiralling into the unknown.
2.Filter Your Inputs
News and social media thrive on keeping us anxious. The more alarmed we are, the more we scroll, click, and watch. But there’s a fine line between staying informed and drowning in negativity.
Give yourself permission to step away. Set boundaries around how often you check the news and which sources you trust. Consider designating specific times of the day to catch up, rather than constantly refreshing your feed. And if your social media is filled with panic and fear, curate it—unfollow accounts that fuel anxiety and follow ones that bring encouragement and hope.
3.Anchor Yourself in Routine
When the world feels unstable, routines provide a sense of normalcy. Even in a crisis, having small daily rituals—making your morning coffee, taking a walk, reading before bed—creates pockets of peace.
These small, familiar acts remind us that life goes on, even in the midst of uncertainty. They help regulate our nervous system, giving us something reliable to hold onto when everything else feels unpredictable.
4.Breathe (Seriously, Just Breathe)
It sounds too simple to work, but deep breathing is one of the most powerful tools we have for calming the nervous system. When we’re stressed, our breath becomes shallow and rapid, signalling our body that we’re in danger. But when we take slow, deep breaths, we send a message to our brain that we’re safe.
Try this: Inhale slowly through your nose for four counts, hold for four counts, and exhale through your mouth for four counts. Repeat a few times. This small practice can help ground you when you start feeling overwhelmed.
5.Remember to Tap
EFT (Tapping) has been shown to reduce stress by up to 80%. We can care, be concerned, be prepared, but we do not have to be stressed. Close your eyes and feel how your body feels. Can you feel tension in your head, or shoulders, maybe tightness in your stomach? Now listen to your thoughts – are you worried, upset, hurt, angry, afraid? Put those thoughts into words.
Write them down. Now use those words as you go through the tapping spots. Go through a couple of times and then have a break and do your body audit again. Has the physical sensations changed.? Have the thoughts changed? Tap on whatever the new thoughts are. You can use this anytime, anywhere, when ever you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed by all that is happening around.
6.Move Your Body
Stress and anxiety build up in the body, and movement helps release it. This doesn’t mean you need to start an intense workout routine (unless you want to!). Gentle movement—like stretching, yoga, dancing in your living room, or going for a short walk—can work wonders in shifting your energy.
Physical activity helps burn off excess adrenaline and cortisol, the stress hormones that keep us in fight-or-flight mode. Moving your body helps bring you back to a state of balance.
7.Connect with Others
Hard times feel even harder when we face them alone. Reaching out to a friend, neighbour, or family member can make a huge difference. Even a simple conversation can remind you that you’re not alone in this.
If you’re in a situation where in-person connection isn’t possible, send a message, hop on a video call, or even just write a letter to someone you care about. Human connection is one of the strongest antidotes to fear and uncertainty.
8.Embrace Small Joys
When everything feels overwhelming, joy can seem frivolous. But it’s actually essential. Finding small moments of happiness—watching a sunset, laughing at a silly video, enjoying a cup of tea—can break the cycle of stress.
I strongly urge everyone to have a gratitude journal. This is a place you can write every day ( I personally like writing at night before bed) Write 3 things you are grateful for that day. It can be big things and little things. It is a great reminder of all that is good in your life. Some days it is only that the sun shines, or a beautiful flower. But every time we remember that good things in our life we are flooding our body with positive hormones.
You don’t have to ignore the problems of the world, but you also don’t have to let them consume every part of your life. Finding moments of light in the darkness isn’t denial—it’s survival.
9.Trust That You Are Resilient
This isn’t the first storm you’ve faced—literal or metaphorical. And it won’t be the last. But you’ve made it through hard times before, and you will again.
The world has always been uncertain, but humans are incredibly adaptable. We learn, we grow, and we find ways to keep going. Trust in your own resilience. You are stronger than you think.
Final Thoughts
We can’t always change what’s happening in the world, but we can change how we respond. By focusing on what we can control—our mindset, our actions, our self-care—we create a foundation of calm, even in the middle of chaos.
So take a deep breath. Turn off the news for a little while. Do something that brings you peace. The world may feel like it’s falling apart, but you don’t have to fall apart with it.
You’ve got this.
Kay x