“The calm before the storm.”
You know the phrase well, whether you come from a long line of sailors or simply rented a pontoon boat during the summer of ’13.
Your storm might be wrangling workplace stress, taming family drama, managing chronic ailments, mastering mental health, or tackling any of the stressors that ebb and flow through life. Whatever your situation, achieving and maintaining calm can help you navigate life’s manifold struggles with greater ease. Calmness during conflict or high-stress scenarios has been proven to:
- Keep you level-headed
- Maintain your awareness and focus
- Provide time to contemplate your words and actions
- Give a positive impression, even in less-than-ideal circumstances [1]
But what if the storm never arrived? Imagine encountering events that used to stress you out but meeting them with an enduring calm that brought clear skies and smooth sailing as you begin the new year. Sound good? To make that a reality, you’ll need intention, clarity, focus—and maybe even a sweet captain’s hat embroidered with your name.
Finding calm, especially when you’re at your worst, can seem insurmountable. Yet, just like accountants closing their books to start fresh ledgers, you, too, can leave behind the chaos, regret, and lack of self-control. Let 2025 be your year of calm—when you’re in control and no longer sweating the small (or big) stuff. With calm as your foundation, achieving goals and sticking to your New Year’s resolutions becomes effortless.
Say it with us: “New Year, Calm You.”
In this article, we’ll explore the holistic health benefits of cultivating and exercising calm during stressful situations and share proven techniques for finding your permanent moment of Zen—whether it’s through deep breathing or your secret weapon for mastering calm: Truvaga’s vagus nerve stimulation.
Why Is Calm Important Now?
Make no mistake: staying calm when confronted with stress is always important.
But this season, the time for rebooting, refreshing, and rejuvenating, makes calm even more crucial. While January One might feel arbitrary to some, the holiday-to-New-Year stretch often brings unique stressors, making it the perfect moment for change.
Here’s why:
- Seasonal Triggers Are Everywhere: From Seasonal Affective Disorder and the “winter blues” to holiday-induced anxiety and the pressures of entertaining, shopping, and disrupted routines, this time of year can leave us crash-landing into January. A calming reset can set you up to take on everything 2025 has in store. (Want tips on navigating seasonal stress? Check out our holiday self-care article!)
- We March to the Beat of the Calendar: Our lives often follow the rhythm of the Gregorian calendar, whether it’s workplace reviews or new streaming show seasons. With so many people using Jan. 1 as a fresh start—from accounting ledgers to gym memberships—it makes sense to align your reboot with this universal rhythm and build a foundation of calm.
The Power of Calm
The idea of calm as a cornerstone for achieving goals and resolutions isn’t new. In fact, it’s timeless.
Consider this quote: “Stay calm and serene regardless of what life throws at you.”
It could be the advice of a modern-day philosopher, right? Actually, it’s wisdom from Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor and author of Meditations. [2] Aurelius was a bit of a calm junkie, advocating that we put our everyday worries and cares into a wider perspective. He advocated for putting life’s worries into perspective, enabling sound decision-making and growth through failure.
Aurelius was ahead of his time, as science has since validated his philosophy, showing that relaxation techniques can:
- Slow heart rate
- Lower blood pressure
- Improve digestion
- Enhance sleep quality
- Reduce fatigue
- Sharpen focus and elevate mood [3]
Interestingly, these benefits closely align with those of our vagus nerve stimulators – Truvaga 350 and Truvaga Plus.
How to Achieve ‘New Year, Calm You’ With Truvaga
Before diving into proven techniques for staying calm under stress, let’s examine what happens in your body during such moments.
When stress strikes, your sympathetic nervous system triggers the “fight or flight” response, momentarily taking over from the parasympathetic nervous system. This response, mediated by the vagus nerve, floods your bloodstream with hormones, increases your heart rate, and quickens your breathing.
A healthy, highly toned vagus nerve ensures this stress response activates only when necessary and helps you quickly return to your “rest and digest” mode after the moment passes. In other words, a well-functioning vagus nerve is critical for maintaining calm. [4]
That’s where Truvaga’s vagus nerve stimulation comes in. Our handheld devices are designed to effectively activate your vagus nerve in just two-minute sessions. It’s rechargeable, offers unlimited sessions, and is app-enabled for personalized optimization. Calm, stress relief, restful sleep, and sharper focus are all within reach with Truvaga.
Other Ways to Find Calm
Many strategies for achieving calm align with techniques for toning and activating the vagus nerve. While Truvaga vagus nerve stimulation devices are our go-to solution, consider adding these methods to your calm toolkit:
The Two-Step Technique:
- Pick a focus: a mantra, prayer, or word like “calm.” Repeat it as you breathe deeply.
- Let go: Return to the situation with a renewed sense of control.
Muscle Relaxation:
- Tense and release each muscle group, starting with your toes and working upward.
Diaphragmatic Breathing:
- Take slow, deep breaths from your diaphragm, letting your belly expand. Exhale slowly to feel the calm wash over you. [5]
Other calming practices include meditation, yoga, tai chi, massage, music therapy, and even creative outlets like writing haikus. Experiment to discover what works best for you. [6]
‘New Year, Calm You’ Begins Now
By prioritizing calm, you might unlock a more lucid, intentional version of yourself. Health benefits like better sleep and reduced stress are just the beginning. With calm as your foundation, you can achieve your goals with balance and focus.
Here’s to sunny skies and a greater sense of calm in 2025!
Sources
[1] The University of Liverpool, Helen Dos Santos, The Benefits of Achieving a Calmer Life – Tips for Researchers, https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/researcher/blog/posts/calmer-life/
[2] BBC, Lindsay Baker, Five ways to be calm – and why it matters, https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230120-five-ways-to-be-calm-and-why-it-matters
[3] Mayo Clinic, Relaxation techniques: Try these steps to lower stress, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/relaxation-technique/art-20045368
[4] Harvard Health Publishing, Understanding the stress response, https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response
[5] Mayo Clinic, Relaxation techniques: Try these steps to lower stress, https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/relaxation-technique/art-20045368
[6] BBC, Lindsay Baker, Five ways to be calm – and why it matters, https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20230120-five-ways-to-be-calm-and-why-it-matters
