I don’t know about you, but lately the world feels overwhelming. Some days it feels like there’s barely room to breathe too many headlines, too many responsibilities, too many unknowns. The chaos isn’t just “out there”; it has a way of creeping into my own mind, stealing my calm, and weighing on my heart.

I’ve had to learn, often the hard way, that protecting my mental and emotional health isn’t a luxury, it’s survival. If I don’t guard my peace, the chaos takes it from me. So, here are some practices I lean on, shared from the perspective of someone still figuring it out in real time.

1. Limit the Noise

I used to scroll endlessly, news, social media, and opinions. Before I knew it, I’d feel drained and anxious. Now, I give myself limits. I check updates once or twice a day, not every hour. I mute accounts or conversations that trigger stress. Protecting your peace often starts with protecting your feed.

2. Build Little Islands of Calm

When everything feels out of control, I create small rituals that remind me I still have a say in my day. Lighting a candle, taking a slow shower, or sipping tea without my phone these moments feel like little islands of calm. They don’t erase the chaos, but they give me somewhere to rest in it.

3. Name What I Can Control (and Let Go of the Rest)

One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that I can’t fix everything, not the economy, not world events, not other people’s choices. What I can do is take care of myself, choose how I respond, and decide where my energy goes. Writing down “what’s mine to carry” versus “what isn’t” has been a powerful practice.

4. Rest Without Guilt

In survival mode, rest feels like weakness. But I’ve discovered it’s the opposite. Rest is strength. Sometimes that means taking a nap. Sometimes it’s going to bed earlier instead of pushing through. Other times, it’s giving myself permission to do nothing for an afternoon. Chaos demands energy, rest is how I recharge to face it.

5. Stay Connected, Even When It’s Hard

Isolation makes tough times tougher. I’ve had days where I wanted to shut everyone out, but the truth is, hearing a friend’s voice or laughing with family brings me back to myself. Even sending a quick text saying, “I’m not okay, but I’m here,” helps me feel less alone.

6. Practice Gratitude and Perspective

This one felt cliché to me at first, but it works. Chaos narrows your vision until all you see is what’s wrong. Writing down three things I’m grateful for every night, even something small like “the sun felt warm today” widens my perspective. It reminds me that even in hard seasons, not everything is dark.

Living in chaos isn’t easy. Some days, I stumble. Some days, I feel like I’m barely holding it together. But these practices remind me that peace isn’t about the world being calm, it’s about creating calm within myself.

If you’re reading this and you’re in the middle of your own storm, I want you to know this: you’re not weak for struggling. You’re human. And even in chaos, you deserve to protect your mind, your heart, and your hope.