Tag: calming

Welcome to our list of things that are calm!

Calming things are very useful when it comes to de-stressing, getting through an anxious moment, or building an atmosphere of trust and peace. Our list covers calming scents, objects, sounds and places and hopefully covers what you’re looking for.

Here’s a visual list of things that are calm:

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Hopefully that visual list of calm things was useful! Here’s a longer and more descriptive list of things that are calm:

• Nap: A short sleep throughout the day (preferably in the sun!) is a great relaxer.
• Pillow: Pillows are soft, comfy and associated with rest. A very calming object.
• Meditation: Everyone meditates differently, and even a few quiet minutes each day is greatly calming to the mind.
• Hot Water Bottle: These are associated with comfort, warmth, blankets and sleep.
• Sleep Socks: These are fluffy socks that are softer and thicker than normal socks. Intended to keep feet warm and comfy during sleep.
• Hammock: An item associated with holidays, sunlight and relaxing.
• Bath: Since you can read, drink, eat and watch movies in the bath, these are associated with unwinding at the end of the day (unlike showers).
• Reading: Reading is commonly used as a way to have quiet time and relax.
• Sleep: Not only is the process of sleep a calming experience, but getting enough sleep throughout the night can help your mood throughout the day while you’re awake.
• Hot Shower: Cold showers are for waking up (and possibly mental discipline) while hot showers are for relaxing the muscles and mind.
• Clouds: Watching clouds is a stereotypically idyllic activity, since it allows the mind to wander (and usually you’re also getting some sun).
• Hair Brushing: Brushing your hair gently can feel like a light massage, and brushing someone else’s hair is a great bonding trust activity.
• Chai Tea: The smell, taste and warmth of chai tea is very calming. Chai tea is flavoured with cinnamon, sugar and cardamom, which is spicy and sweetly aromatic.
• Pyjamas: Since pyjamas have a mental link to sleep and relaxation, they’re a calming set of clothing to wear.
• Stretching: Gently stretching the body is good for your body and your mind too.
• Child’s Pose: Child’s pose is a gentle yoga pose that is meant to relax the muscles.
• Peppermint Tea: The warmth and mintiness of peppermint tea is a great relaxant.
• Lavender: Lavender is a very popular scent in aromatherapy for its calming properties.
• Pillow Spray: This is a scented liquid (usually made from herbs and flower oils and essences) intended to spray on to pillows to help you sleep.
• Lava Lamp: These lamps were very popular about 20 years ago. They have viscous liquids of varying densities floating around slowly in a glass tube. Watching the bubbles slowly flowing around the tube was a commonly calming view.
• Soft Lighting: Having some soft lighting can be less harsh on the eyes and therefore more relaxing. Candles, lamps, dimmed and filtered lights are all great examples of soft lighting.
• Eye Mask: These are soft masks laid over the eyes to block out light during sleep. Some people use them to block out visuals during the day to have a short period of rest.
• Yoga: This is a form of exercise which focuses on mind-body connection through series of slow poses of varying difficulty.
• Bath Oil: These are scented oils intended to smell nice and moisturise the skin.
• Bath Salts/Bomb: Bath bombs come in many different varieties and scents. Many are coloured and have glitter in them for a nice visual effect as they dissolve in the bathwater.
• Green Tea: Although green tea has caffeine in it, it’s a low enough amount that green tea is still considered a relaxing drink.
• Ocean Sounds: Sounds of soft waves, crunching sand and seagulls are used as relaxing ambient noises.
• Birdsong: Birdsong is associated with a lack of traffic and the countryside, so it’s considered a fairly calming sound.
• Worry Stone: These are smooth, round stones that are “worried” (rolled around) in the hand as a self-soothing and grounding technique.
• Whispering: Whispering is a quiet and intimate act, generally only between people who trust each other.
• Dark Chocolate: This is considered a luxury food and can feel good to eat because of the antioxidants and sugar.
• Soft Music: Soft, slow music gives our minds something to focus on other than our worries, tasks and concerns.
• Hot Chocolate: This is a warm, calming drink reminiscent of cold weather, snuggling up and movie watching.
• Whalesong: Since whales are such peaceful, slow creatures, listening to their songs can be a calming experience.
• Houseplants: There are studies showing that being around greenery lowers anxiety. The process of growing and looking after plants is good for your physical and mental health and mood.
• Cross Stitch: This is a very intricate and time-consuming form of art/craft. Since it requires a fair amount of patience and concentration, it tends to relax the mind.
• Fireplace: The warmth and sound of a crackling fireplace is generally considered to be very relaxing.  
• Countryside: Since there’s less traffic, people, buildings and noise, being in the countryside is a calming time (especially since it’s quite common to take holidays in the country).
• Oats: Warm oats can be therapeutic to make and eat.
• Pumpkin Soup: Hot pumpkin soup is a common comfort food.
• Chamomile: Since chamomile has no caffeine in it, it’s often used as a drink to wind down at the end of the day.
• Silence: Not being interacted with allows us to take stock of our own thoughts, feelings and overall state.
• Breakfast in Bed: Having breakfast in bed is usually seen as a luxury, especially since it’s generally someone else who makes and organises it.
• ASMR: ASMR is designed to trigger the autosensory meridian response, which is a warm tingling feeling that feels almost blissful.
• Bob Ross: Since Bob Ross is incredibly kind and encouraging, he’s seen as an icon of positive feelings and it’s common for people to watch his videos if they’re feeling down.
• Forests: Since forests are generally far from the noise and bustle of the city, they’re seen as an ideal place to go for a walk and clear the mind. The air is fresher and clearer, there’s shade and sunlight and you can hear the rustling of birds and other small animals.
• Colouring Book: “Adult” colouring books with strong linework and intricate patterns have been a popular way to alleviate anxiety in recent years.
• Valerian Root Tea: This is a tea used specifically for its calming properties.
• Breathing Techniques: There are many types of slow, deep breathing patterns used to calm the mind and body down when feeling anxious or stressed.
• Pancakes: These are commonly seen as a family or weekend breakfast food.
• Museum: No running or loud noises are allowed in museums, so they’re an ideal place for quiet reflection and learning.
• Hot Spring: Japanese hot springs are meant to bathe and relax the body, and can be enjoyed socially or solo.
• Ocean: The ocean is a very restful place, in the morning or nighttime.
• Knitting: Knitting is a very quiet, peaceful activity, especially if the knitting involves a specific pattern.
• Mountains: Since the mountains are a quiet, peaceful place, they’re considered
• Hiking: While hiking can be tiring depending on the difficulty, it generally feels really good to be physically active and walking through mountains and forests.
• Apple Pie: A comfort food associated with families (typically motherly family members).
• Face Masks: There are two main types of face mask – the type you paint on and then wash off after a few minutes, and the type where you place a thin cloth sheet over your face, leaving it for a few minutes before removing.
• Painting: Since painting is such a sensory experience, it can feel very peaceful and energising.
• Park: It can be nice to stroll through a park, smelling the flowers and seeing small animals scurry around.
• Sunrise: Being awake to see the sun rise feels very uplifting, and even just seeing pictures of it can make us feel happier.
• Nighttime Drives: Going for a drive when the roads aren’t choked with traffic and noise is much more calming.
• Morning Beach: It’s generally a nicer experience to go to the beach before it gets crowded and hot.  
• Egg Chair: Another take on the hammock – a round, woven egg that hangs from the ceiling.
• Angus and Julia Stone: These two write and perform indie music with plenty of nostalgic, loving feelings.
• Botanic Garden: Large, rambling gardens can feel great to roam around and get a little lost in.
• Companion Animals: These are animals that we live with, look after, and share emotional comfort and safety with.
• Pumpkin Spice Latte: A warm, spicy drink flavoured with sweet pumpkin.
• Mashed Potatoes: A comfort food where potatoes are mashed before being mixed with butter and sometimes milk, cream, cheese and salt.
• Doves: Doves are a symbol of peace and known for their calming “coo”.
• Walking: Taking a long walk by yourself is meditative and good for your physical health too.
• Talking to a Friend: Whether you’ve had a hard day or just need some time to chill, having friends around to support us and give advice is a very safe way for us to process our thoughts and emotions (given that our relationships are healthy and not toxic).
• Pudding: A dessert which can be either light or decadent, and comes in many flavours and varieties.
• Grilled Cheese: A comfort food where cheese is toasted between slices of bread.
• Whistling: People tend to only whistle when they’re in a good mood, so it can feel good to see or hear someone whistling.
• Butterflies: Since butterflies are small, harmless and decorated with interesting colours and patterns, it can feel nice to see one fluttering around.
• Puzzles: Solving puzzles – whether they’re a jigsaw or word game – is good for our brain and the quiet focus is good for mood regulation too.
• Blowing Bubbles: Blowing bubbles is a whimsical pasttime. It can feel nice to see the bubbles form and fly away.
• Home: Our home should be a safe space where we can unwind and relax.
• Rocking Chair: Since rocking chairs sway us (almost like a hammock), they can feel comforting to sit in.
• Light Exercise: Doing a bit of exercise that gets our heartrate up (but not too much) can be a focusing, meditative experience.
• Pilates: While more upbeat than yoga, pilates is still a slow, low-impact exercise.
• Bedroom: Our bedrooms are safe, private areas where we can feel secure enough to sleep, relax and store our personal items.
• Libraries: Since libraries are quiet areas, we know we’re able to peacefully do our work there without feeling anxious about loud noises or having our train of thought interrupted.
• Blue (colour): Studies have shown that blue is a colour that relaxes people.  
• Incense: Burning incense provides a smoky scent and is used by many while meditating.
• Slow Television: This is a form of TV show where a long undertaking is shown in its entirety (for example, a seven hour train ride).
• Vanilla (scent): Vanilla is a warm, comforting scent, and is used in perfumes, soaps and moisturisers.
• Slow Dancing: This is a nice way for people to move around and feel more in touch with their bodies while also expressing their emotions.
• Audiobooks: These are a more relaxing version of reading, since you can close your eyes while someone reads to you.
• Singing: Singing is a low-cost and healthy way to express emotion.
• Pottery: This is the process of making ceramics, usually with a pottery wheel.
• Podcasts: Whether they’re entertaining or educational, podcasts are a nice and sometimes constructive way to pass the time.
• Bean Bag: Bean bags are a comfortable way to relax since they mould to your body, unlike chairs.
• Lambs: Lambs are associated with images of happiness and springtime.
• Terrace House: This is a Japanese reality show where people live together in the same house. It’s a lot kinder and more polite than Big Brother.
• Wildlife Webcam: These are webcams set up in reservations so that people can watch animals go about their day without interruption.  
• Ducks: People tend to love ducks for their round bodies, fluffy babies and waddling walk.
• Sloth: Sloths are mammals that are known for being slow.
• Macaroni and Cheese: A classic comfort food made of pasta tubes and cheese sauce.
• Jellyfish: Although jellyfish can cause humans plenty of harm, their undulating shells and flowing tentacles can be very peaceful to watch.
• Pandas: People generally like pandas for their fluffy appearance and goofy, good-natured behaviour.
• Turtles: Since turtles are slow and harmless, we tend to favour them and think they’re cute.
• Manatee: Manatees are large marine mammals that are friendly to humans and considered by many to be very cute.
• Gardening: Gardening is good for your mental and physical health, since you’re getting fresh air, sunlight, and doing physical activity.
• Planet Earth: This is the documentary series by David Attenborough.
• Tortoises: Since these are so slow and peaceful, tortoises can be peaceful to watch and be around.
• Lo-Fi Music: This is music with a low-cost production. Usually slow, chilled out remixes or mashups of existing songs.
• Instrumental Music: Instrumental music – particularly classical or slow jazz – can create a relaxing atmosphere.
• Bird Feeding: Feeding the birds is considered a peaceful activity, but be careful not to feed birds bread! It’s unhealthy for them, and it’s much better to give them seeds.  
• Fish Feeding: Watching fish pop to the surface for a bit of food is enjoyed by many.
• People Watching: Many enjoy watching others go about their day from the safety of a cafe or park.
• Ironing: Since you need to iron fairly slowly to do it effectively, it can be a fairly calming chore (compared to vaccuuming, for example).
• Lovebirds: Lovebirds are small, cute, and affectionate birds. They’re popular as companion animals because of these traits.
• Lemon Oil: Lemon oil is a very soothing, uplifting scent, and is used in candles, soaps and other body care items (like moisturisers and perfume).
• SAD Lamp: SAD stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder, and causes people’s moods to fluctuate along with the weather and seasons. SAD lamps emulate sunlight and are intended to ease the symptoms of SAD.
• Tidying: Doing a bit of tidying leaves us with a cleaner, more peaceful space than before.
• Steven Universe: This is a sweet and wholesome cartoon intended for children but watched by basically everyone.
• Deep Breaths: Taking deep breaths gives our mind time to process a situation, and helps alleviate anxiety.
• Ylang-ylang: This is a type of flower which is used in perfumes, candles and body care products.
• Organising: Getting your things in order can leave you with a sense of satisfaction and peace knowing that you’ll have less stress and work to do in the future.
• Rosemary: Rosemary is a herb with a calming scent, and can be used in savoury food and baking.
• Minimalism: This is a concept of living where you use and consume as little as possible.
• Tidying Up With Marie Kondo: Marie Kondo is a much-loved home guru who helps people make their homes a more peaceful and less stressful place.
• Bubble Wrap: Popping bubble wrap is considered to be very therapuetic for many people.
• Waffles: Waffles are a bit of a luxury food – eaten on the weekend, in bed, or with family for celebrations.
• Adventure Time: A popular TV show (cartoon) with simple shapes and colours and relatable characters and storylines.
• Amelie: Amelie is a feelgood romance movie with lovely instrumental music and interesting visuals.
• Mr. Rogers: Mr. Rogers was a TV personality who was known for being caring and wholesome.
• Elephants: Since elephants are slow, peaceful, and known for their caring way of co-living (elephants will take care of children that aren’t their own), they’re considered a nice animal to be around.
• Cartoons: Watching kids’ cartoons can feel safe and nostalgic.
• Bee and Puppycat: This is a cartoon with quirky, lovable characters and sweet, calming music.  
• Head Below Heart: Some studies have shown that putting your head in a position below you heart (like putting your head between your knees) can help with calming anxiety.
• Fractals: Fractals are patterns which are never-ending. Looking at them, making them or colouring them in can feel very peaceful.
• Cycling: Feeling the wind through your hair and a cool breeze on your face is a great and calming sport (and mode of transport!).
• Babies: While babies can be noisy and quite a handful, being around babies can make many people feel better
• Run: Going for a run is a meditative activity that’s good for your body too. But don’t forget to stretch!

We hope this list of calm things was useful and that you found what you needed!

We did our best to cover all of the varied meanings of “calm” with our visual gallery of calm things and descriptive list. But if you feel there’s something we missed, please feel free to let us know and leave a comment.

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