How to Find Your Calm When the World Feels Too Fast: 7 Simple Practices from Peacemakers

Best Ever You
Oct 31
3 min read

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, Founder of Best Ever You

Introduction

We live in a world that often feels like it’s moving faster than we can keep up with. One moment we’re sipping morning coffee, and the next, it’s 10 p.m., and we’re wondering where the day went. Between endless notifications, to-do lists, and expectations, life can feel like a constant race with no finish line in sight.

At Best Ever You, we believe that peace isn’t a luxury, it’s a life skill. It’s something you can practice, build, and strengthen every single day. When life feels too fast, calm isn’t found by speeding up to catch it, it’s found by slowing down to meet it.

Below are seven simple, evidence-based, heart-centered practices that can help you return to yourself, even when the world is rushing around you.

Pause Before You Launch

Before you check your phone, before you even get out of bed : pause. Take one deep, grounding breath. Notice your surroundings, the light, the sounds. Set an intention for how you want to feel today before the world tells you how to react.

This single mindful pause trains your brain to respond to life, not react to it. It’s your first daily act of peace.

Name the Current

We can’t calm what we haven’t named. When stress begins to build, ask yourself: What’s the current I’m swimming in right now?

Maybe it’s work pressure, family expectations, or your own perfectionism. Whatever it is, name it gently. Awareness transforms overwhelm into something tangible — and once it’s tangible, it’s manageable.

Create One Digital Boundary

Every scroll is a small decision — and thousands of small decisions create mental fatigue. Choose one small boundary today:

No email for the first 30 minutes of your morning.
Phone off during meals.
Social media check-ins limited to twice per day.

These tiny boundaries re-train your attention to belong to you, not your screen.

Breathe Like You Mean It

Your breath is the most underused peace tool you own. Try this simple practice: inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 2, exhale for 6. Repeat three times.

This activates your body’s parasympathetic nervous system — the one responsible for calm, clarity, and grounded decision-making. Breathing deeply reminds your entire being: I am safe. I can slow down.

Savor One Small Moment

Peace doesn’t always come through meditation cushions or long retreats. Sometimes it comes through your morning coffee, a warm shower, or the sound of birds outside your window.

Stay there. Let yourself feel that moment without rushing to the next. Savoring teaches your nervous system to recognize beauty, even in chaos.

Ask: What’s My Right Next Action?

When overwhelm hits, our minds tend to spiral into everything that must be fixed. Instead, pause and ask: What’s the right next action?

Not the whole plan. Not the grand solution. Just one small, peaceful step forward. This question grounds you in presence and restores your sense of agency — even on the busiest days.

Reflect Before You Rest

End each day the way you want tomorrow to begin — in peace. Before bed, ask yourself two simple questions:

What moments brought me peace today?
What will I let go of before I sleep?

Writing these down or simply reflecting helps you close the loop on your day and train your mind to notice what’s working rather than what’s missing.

Peace isn’t about escaping the pace of life — it’s about creating calm within it. When you choose to slow down, even for a breath, you invite the world to meet you at a gentler rhythm.

Remember: you can’t control the current, but you can learn to float. Choose one of these seven practices today. Notice how your energy shifts when you give yourself permission to pause.

Be Your Best. Pause for Peace. Help the World Be Better.

About Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino is the founder of Best Ever You, a global community dedicated to personal and professional growth, gratitude, and peace. She’s the author of multiple award-winning books, including The Change Guidebook, The Success Guidebook, and The forthcoming Peace Guidebook, co-authored with Dr. Katie Eastman. A bestselling author and certified master coach, Elizabeth inspires millions worldwide through her books, coaching, and The Best Ever You Show podcast.