10 Ways to Find a Moment of Quiet in Every Day

Do you ever struggle to find a quiet moment for yourself? You’re not alone. Today’s fast- paced world leaves so many of us feeling constantly busy and unable to pause for a few minutes to enjoy a quiet moment of stillness. 

What if I told you that it’s easier than you think? Even if you don’t think that you could possibly find the time, I’m sure that one of these simple tips could help you create a moment of quiet in your day to support your health and wellbeing - you deserve it.    

1: RISE EARLIER
If your home is a bustle of activity for most of the day then the best time to find a few moments of solace could be first thing in the morning. Yes, it could mean getting up a little earlier, but even an extra 10 minutes can make all the difference and help you get your day started well with a few moments of peace. Try a short meditation or simply a few quiet moments with a warm drink. Here’s how to create a more holistic morning routine.

2: COMMUNICATE
Your partner or children may not recognise how much you need a little time for yourself; that’s okay because we can’t expect them to read our minds!  A little communication goes a long way here and gives them the opportunity to help and support you. Again, it can be helpful to have a routine; take the first 20 minutes of the weekdays or a Sunday morning for yourself. This helps everyone understand that you’re not available during this precious time.

3: HEAD OUT INTO NATURE
Can you change your daily routine to include more connection with nature? Could you take a walk at lunchtime or is there a nearby park or river that you could walk by in the evening? Perhaps you could simply sit in your garden after dinner and enjoy a few mindful moments or tend your plants in the summer months. I’ve always found that cultivating a deeper connection with nature makes me feel instantly calmer - give it a try and see how much better it makes you feel.

4: TRY NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES
It’s not often that you’ll find me recommending tech to help you find a moment quiet in your day but a set of noise-cancelling headphones can make a world of difference. I love mine and my house isn’t even that noisy! Putting them on while I meditate or study helps me to avoid distractions and keeps my mind focused. Team them up with some quiet relaxing music and enjoy a few moments of peace.

5: MEDITATE
Discard any idea you have about meditation being difficult or having to last for hours to be worth doing.  I started my practice many years ago by taking just 2 minutes a day to meditate, because who can argue that they don’t have 2 minutes for themselves, right? I did it for 30 days to establish it as a habit and have never stopped practising. Today it’s part of my morning and evening routine; I can’t imagine life without it. Please give it a try...here’s how to make meditation your new wellness habit

6: USE NATURAL PAUSES
We all have more natural pauses in our day than we realise and they can be used to create a few moments of quiet. So, while you wait for the kettle to boil take a few deep breaths; inhale slowly through your nose, filling your belly - pause for a second - and then slowly exhale through your nose. Be mindful as the breath moves through your body, follow it as it comes in and then leaves again. Try looking for any natural pauses in your day to create a few precious moments of peace.  

7: DAYDREAM
When was the last time that you sat and daydreamed for a while? As children, most of do this a lot but like many things, we lose it along the way. It’s actually said to make us more creative and so give it a try and see where it takes you. 

8: PRACTICE MINDFULNESS
It’s easy to spend much of our day on auto-pilot...never really being present in the routine tasks that we do. But, we can bring a sense of mindfulness into even the most ordinary of tasks. Bring your attention to your different senses while you walk the dog, eat your meals, or even wash the dishes and see how it transforms the experience. Practising mindfulness helps our minds focus on the present which in turn decreases worry and anxiety. 

9: SCHEDULE IT
During particularly busy chapters of our lives, it helps to be practical and schedule your moments of quiet into your day. That’s right, put them into your day planner just like any other kind of appointment. It could be 5 minutes here and there or a more solid block of time. Either way, leaving a little white space in your daily routine will help you catch your breath as well as feel calmer and more connected to yourself and your purpose.

10: PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE

So many of us complain that we don’t have enough time for ourselves or to create the peace that we crave in our lives. Yet we spend quite a while every day scrolling through our phones. Try swapping some screentime for self-care. Next time you reach for your phone, pause - take a few deep breaths and spend the next 10 minutes creating a moment of quiet instead.   

So, did you find one or two things that could help you create a moment of quiet in your day? Maybe you could look for some of those natural pauses in your day or enjoy a few minutes in the garden after work. Try doing whatever sounds good for you. Don’t worry that any of these tips seem too simple; remember that it’s often the simplest things that make the biggest difference.      

AUTHOR: LEANNA DOOLIN

Co – Founder of holistic skincare brand, Pure Thoughts and advocate for women finding pause in their day to breathe deeply, give thanks and reconnect to what matters. Loves early mornings, dogs and books that you can’t put down.