Calm zone
There are lots of ways to feel calmer. It's about finding what works for you. Try some of our breathing exercises, activities, games and videos to help let go of stress.
Activities and tools
Try one of these activities or use some of the tools to help you feel better when you're feeling anxious, scared or sad.
Breathing exercises
Taking slow, deep breaths can help you feel calmer and more relaxed. You can try just one of these exercises or as many as you like. You might need to repeat an exercise a few times until you feel it working.
Try to take deep breaths where you can feel your chest rising. When you breathe out it might feel like you're slowly letting the air out of a balloon. You can close your eyes, look at something in the distance or not focus on anything at all.
Breathe in, breathe out
If you're feeling overwhelmed, take some long, deep breaths.
Breathe and sigh
Breathe in through your nose
Make a big sigh and drop your shoulders downwards as you breathe out through your mouth
Repeat 4 times
Calming words
Breathe in while you say to yourself "I feel calm"
Breathe out while you say to yourself "I let go of stress"
Breathe in while you say to yourself "Feel calm"
Breathe out and say to yourself "Let go of stress"
Expressing yourself
Drawing and writing can help you think about your feelings or anything that's worrying you or making you feel anxious. Doing something creative can help you to feel calmer and distract you from problems. And you don't have to be "good" at art to be creative. Expressing yourself is for you.
You can try as many of these activities as you like. Or find a favourite that you can go to any time you need to. You can also use the Art box to create images and save them in your locker.
yoga videos
Lots of people use yoga to feel calm. It can help you relax, gently build your fitness and keep you active. And Nicole from Yotism has created a few short activities and routines for you to try.
Remember to take breaks when you need to and only try poses you're comfortable with. If you're worried about your health or mobility, it can help to ask an adult you trust for advice before you start.
Finger hugging
Calming yoga
Nostril breathing
Games
Games and puzzles are a great way to distract yourself, lift your mood or settle your mind. When you need to feel calm, playing games that help you work through your feelings or give you a different focus can be really helpful.
You might have a favourite game of your own or you can try one of the ones below or in our games section.
Build your happy place
Create your ideal room. Fill it with things that help you feel happy, calm and safe.
Balloon game
Play our game and feel your worries float away.
Tower of Confidence
Build a tower made up of all the great things about you.
Wall of expression
Write your worries on the wall and then watch them crumble away.
ways to cope Videos
Watching a video can help to distract you from problems and thoughts. Our videos have ideas about things you can do to feel calmer, especially when you're feeling stressed, sad or anxious.