There’s probably no need to describe what’s going on in the world right now. Isn’t it ironic that we are considered the homo sapiens, the smartest and most intelligent species, yet we’re the only ones who start wars for the sake of nothing? We have all means to live a peaceful, happy life, but we always choose violence and hostility and create chaos. We act like there are 5 other planets we can move to once we’re done destroying this one.

Anyway, these wonderings won’t do any good, as sometimes understanding the problem isn’t enough. Sadly, we don’t have any power to change anything going on, because it’s all a game played from above, and we’re simply pawns in their hands. You can’t change the world, but you can try to shelter your own life and wellbeing from all this negativity and panic. Constantly worrying about something that you’re not in control will do you nothing but harm. So, here are a few simple ways to stay calm and mindful during this havoc.

Less news

When a disaster happens, the worst thing to do is to watch the news 24/7. I know that people want to know what’s happening, but believe me, it’s the worst trap. You won’t really learn anything important, but find out about more attacks and more terrible deaths.

When Armenia was in a war, I kept updating the news pages every few minutes to see if there are any updates. It kept me in a constant stress and didn’t help in any way. So, that’s my biggest advice to you: stay offline as much as possible. Of course, you can’t stay in a state of a total unawareness as uncertainty also affects your mental health, but try to set a limit and watch the news at least a few times a day.

Fresh air

Scientists and psychologists have long proven that long walks in fresh air are the best way to wind down and get rid of the destructive thoughts. You get out, see different things on your way, switch your attention to something else and clear your head. And walking is a great exercise that helps to release the tension both in your body and mind.

More time for hobbies and interactions

When you don’t have anything to do you either go back to your phone and read some more negative news and analysis of what’s going on, or you just start overthinking on your own, picturing all the possibilities bad scenarios that could happen. Instead try to fill your day with your favorite hobbies and activities to switch off your mind and do something enjoyable.

Human interactions are essential as well, as having a good company is always a great solution to many problems. Remember, united we stand, divided we fall. So, spend more time with your close people who will give you a feeling of comfort and security.

More positivity

Everything around is energy, which right now is already filled with a huge portion of negativity, fear, uncertainty and anxiety. You need to balance that energy by bringing more positivity into your life. That’s why when times are hard, don’t opt for books, movies or programs that are even more depressing. Go for comedies, inspirational and motivational stories, something that will fill your heart with joy and hope for a better future. At the end of the day that’s all we can do: hope and believe that things will be okay.

Change of perspective

This one is a little controversial, as joking about something as horrible as war and its casualties is absolutely wrong. But hear me out. In the last couple of years, whenever there’s a new attack or a risk of a big war, I keep seeing memes about that situation. Watching them I suddenly realized that it made me less afraid of everything bad going on. Something about people all over the world making jokes about this huge mess we’re all in, gives me a feeling unity, as if I’m not alone, we’re all in this together, we have each other. And it’s not just me. Hundreds and thousands of people (especially millennials and gen z-s) in the comments say the same thing: seeing those memes and laughing helped them a great deal and now they’re calmer than they were before. So, maybe a change of perspective really helps to digest the situation better and adapt to this new reality.

When there’s a war going on (even if it’s not in your country), it’s hard to concentrate or think about anything else. Running your errands, watching a comedy and living your normal life, when there are people dying, feels egoistic and unfair. Even writing this post doesn’t really feel right. But I also know that if we all start collectively panic and feed the negativity, it will make the situation worse. Fear is the best way to control people, that’s why we need to stay as calm, peaceful and positive as possible. It takes great strength to keep your spirits up during hard times. But that’s what always helps the most.